Graeme McDowell is back in action this week at the Asian Tour’s International Series Volvo China Open at Hidden Grace Golf Club where he joins a field of 122, including Asian Tour and International Series Order of Merit leader Andy Ogletree competing for the $1.5 million purse.
McDowell, a runner-up in the China Open back in 2007 when it was a European Tour event, has been a regular feature at Chinese Tour stops throughout his decorated career and though he has a win in South Korea, feels he has some unfinished business with a victory in China still missing from his resume.
“Yes, very much so,” he replied when asked if he was focused on ticking a Chinese win off the list. “I think I have always played quite well when I’ve come to this part of the world. My time in Shanghai at the HSBC Champions I’ve played well there in the past, and Beijing at the last Volvo China Open I played. I’ve always enjoyed coming to this part of the world. The hotel and the golf course are exceptional and of course playing the next three events (Volvo China Open, Hong Kong Open & Indonesian Masters), I’m here to compete and win tournaments, and I would like to finish the unfinished business from the last Volvo China Open.”
This week’s event is being held in Shenzhen, a city that has been a former Volvo China Open host as well as staging the Shenzhen International, a co-sanctioned European and Asian Tour event, but it’s been a while since McDowell has visited the southern China city that sits just across the border from Hong King.
“This is the first time I’ve been here in the Shenzhen area for eight years,” he recalled. “I had a look around the golf course yesterday and it looks spectacular, it’s in great condition and I think last time I played the Volvo China Open it was in Beijing. It is great to be back – the golf course looks amazing.”
Of the many criticisms aimed at LIV, that they have a truly global tour is one that can’t be hurled its way. Events in Singapore, Australia, Mexico, Spain, Britain, Saudi Arabia and the United States all featured in its 13-stop schedule and McDowell would welcome a Chinese LIV event in the near future.
“I think that would be fantastic,” he said. “LIV Golf is a truly global tour and as we move into 2024, we will have more events outside of America, because those are markets that are more interested in the LIV product. I think no part of the world is out of the question for LIV tournaments, if the interest level is there and the fan base and markets and sponsors are interested.
“One of the things about LIV is it is a completely blank canvas and anything is possible, and as golf in China continues to develop it would be interesting to bring LIV to China.”
Andy Ogletree, also being interviewed alongside McDowell, outlined what he believed to be LIV’s global strategy. Ogletree had been one of the original 48 players who contested LIV’s maiden events and is set for a return to the fold next year as the International Series winner.
“Obviously the PGA has dominated the American market for a long time,” Ogletree said. “I think that LIV’s plan is to dominate worldwide market, and I think that China is included in that picture. There is obviously great golf here and a lot of golf fans and I think if the people were to get excited”
McDowell has never been one of the game’s big hitters, but after his first impressions of Hidden Grace, he believes that accuracy off the tee may be more important than length this week.
“I think having had a little look at this course yesterday,” he explained. “It seems to be a key driving course. The targets are narrow-ish in places and if you miss them you are in big trouble. The greens seem quite undulating so picking your spots where to land the ball coming into the targets are also going to be key.”
McDowell’s last win came at the Saudi International in 2020, just before the pandemic brought all tour golf to a halt, and getting back into contention and, hopefully, into the winner’s circle continues to motivate the Portrush man.
“My goals for the next three weeks are to try to compete and try to get the juices flowing and try and win a golf tournament as I move into 2024 and hopefully continue to be part of LIV. I think just to get back into the winner’s circle, I think winning is fun and it breeds more good golf and more good confidence, so getting into the winner’s circle as soon as possible is definitely the goal for the next 12 months.”
As for any potential developments on the merger between LIV and the PGA and DP World Tours, McDowell remains in the dark like the rest of us.
“I think it is a very interesting time in the game of golf,” he said. “It’s a very pivotal time between now and the end of year and then maybe the Masters. What happens between now and Augusta is going to define where this game of golf goes for the next five years.
“I’m hopeful that there is going to be some type of alignment between the PGA Tour and LIV, the two biggest tours in world right now, because I think that is good for the sport. I don’t think any of us going to LIV wanted the game to be fractured the way it’s been fractured. We love the game and want to see healing.
“You guys know about as much as I do in regards the status of that merger. We read the rumours, we hear rumours, but really don’t know what is going on. But I’m hopeful for some healing because I think the fan will win, the golf fans and the golf market around the world. They are the losers right now because of where the game is at, but I think they will win again if we have some type of alignment in the sport again.”
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