McDowell Match Play Champion

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Graeme McDowell came from behind to beat Thongchai Jaidee 2 and 1 and win the Volvo World Match Play Championship in Bulgaria.

Last year’s runner-up had got off to a string of fast starts en route to the final, but found himself two down after four to the resilient Jaidee and took seven holes to register a win.

Still one down at the turn, a run of three wins in four holes from the 12th gave the Northern Irishman the €800,000 winner’s cheque and one of the most prestigious titles on The European Tour.

“Obviously a nice day and a great trophy,” said McDowell. “I talked about it all week about the prestige of this event and how many great champions, and nice to add my name to that list of legends. 

“We talked a lot about what Volvo have done with this event, what they have done with golf around the world and coming to Bulgaria this week obviously was a brave move, but I think it's paid off. 

“Sitting here with the trophy I'm going to say great things about the place but I think if you talk to all the players, I think everyone enjoyed themselves, everyone enjoyed the golf course.” 

Jaidee had the consolation of €400,000 as runner-up, but could be forgiven for wondering how his name had not joined the distinguished list of winners on the trophy which includes the likes of Seve Ballesteros, Jack Nicklaus, Arnold Palmer, Sir Nick Faldo and Ernie Els.

In perfect conditions at a sun-drenched Thracian Cliffs Golf & Beach Resort, it was 43 year old Thai Jaidee who won the second from 25 feet, having salvaged a half at the first despite driving into a bunker.

Five-time European Tour winner Jaidee, having seen off Thomas Aiken in the morning’s semi-finals, doubled his advantage at the long fourth when McDowell missed a ten foot birdie putt and the World Number 63 converted from half that distance.

Former US Open Champion McDowell had beaten Branden Grace in his semi-final and was looking to atone for his defeat to Nicolas Colsaerts at the same stage last year.

But the World Number Eight was lucky not to go three down at the par five fifth when his approach went into an unplayable patch of rough and he had to salvage par from 12 feet, with Jaidee missing his birdie effort from six feet.

A hole finally went McDowell’s way when he birdied the short seventh from six feet, and the next four were halved with pars – although Jaidee had a chance from six feet at the eighth and McDowell had to hole lengthy par putts at the ninth and tenth.

Only McDowell was able to birdie the long 12th and so the contest went into the closing stretch all square again, although the momentum had clearly shifted.

McDowell won the 14th with a par after Jaidee drove into a bush and had to play out sideways, and as a result led the final for the first time, before taking the 15th after a brilliant approach to five feet and paring the next two for victory.

“It was a little bit more tentative this afternoon,” added McDowell, who won the RBC Heritage on the US PGA Tour last month. “It was tough to keep that level of golf up all weekend, and the key putts really this afternoon were with the par saves on nine and ten - they were massive. 

“I sensed from Thongchai after that that he was starting to fatigue a little bit; I really sensed a bit of an opening. I just had to hit the shots and I did that well coming down the stretch. The mistake he made on 14 and then the birdie I made on 15 was really the telling stuff. 

“Like I say, it’s great to put my name on the trophy. I'm looking across to see Montgomerie and Westwood just popping off the trophy at me, great European Tour legends, Palmer, Nicklaus, Player, the history of this event, it's fantastic. 

“This feels really, really like a special win. I'm sure Volvo are going to work hard to take this tournament from strength to strength and get it back as one of the premiere events, one of the special events on The European Tour season, which it needs to be. 

“Els, Montgomerie, Westwood, Ballesteros, Norman, Lyle, Faldo, Player, Palmer, it's just crazy stuff really. To thrust yourself into that - to have your name on a trophy this cool is pretty special.

“I'll drink a couple of cold ones tonight and enjoy this. This is a special moment in my career, no doubt about it. Wins are super special - two in five weeks, that's great. I'm feeling pretty good right now.”

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GMAC Seeks No New Horizon

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Graeme McDowell believes Rory McIlroy's poor form this season is behind the world number two's decision to leave Horizon Sports Management to create his own management group.

McIlroy denied speculation at the Players Championship last week that he would create his own team with his father, close friends and associates, but McDowell confirmed the two-time major winner had decided on his second management change since October 2011. The 24-year-old left International Sports Management just four months after winning the US Open, joining McDowell at Horizon.

"Management is a funny thing and when things are maybe not going 100 per cent on the golf course it is natural to question everything you are doing, from relationships, business and just everything you do," McDowell said after reaching the last 16 of the Volvo World Match Play Championship.

"Rory has made a decision about his management structure for whatever reason. I don't know the reasons because I haven't seen much of him the last few months as our schedules have been different.

"But it's just one of those things and you only have to look at the last 18 months and the job Horizon have done for Rory. He's had a phenomenal 18 months, signing the biggest deal in golf (with Nike) at the end of last year.

"Business-wise Rory's in the best shape he's ever been in his life and while he has struggled with his golf the early part of this season for whatever reason, I am sure the management company weren't giving him golf lessons or caddying for him. That's kind of his own deal.

"But when we are not on our game we have a tendency to, and I am not going to say make wrong decisions, but we do question everything in our lives, what we are doing and sometimes we have to make changes.

"Rory's decision is a fairly amicable break up and Rory just wants to do his own thing and surround himself with his family. That's fair enough.

"And as far as my relationship with Horizon Sports is concerned, they have done a phenomenal job for me the last five to six years, and it's pretty tough to look at Rory's scenario and say they've done a bad job.

"I've been through much the same situation as Rory before I signed with Horizon but when the stakes are high and the pressure is on, the old caddie and coaches are first to go. I guess management companies are not too far down that pecking order. It's disappointing to lose him as a management stablemate but we will go forward still very good friends."

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McDowell Shows Winning Edge

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Graeme McDowell qualified for the last-16 of the Volvo World Match Play Championship with maximum points, as the top seed sent a clear message to his title rivals heading into the weekend in Bulgaria.

All the talk heading into the week was of the stunning Thracian Cliffs Golf & Beach Resort in Kavarna and its favourable comparisons with the revered Californian layout, Pebble Beach.

It was on that rugged pacific coastline course that McDowell of course claimed his maiden Major triumph at The 2010 US Open Championship, and after seeing off Stephen Gallacher 4&2 to move into the knockout stages of the tournament he admitted that the Gary Player gem was well matched to his game.

“There are a few tight tee shots but it really suits my ball shape; it suits the fade,” said McDowell, who also overcame Chris Wood 5&3 on Thursday to top the Seve Ballesteros Group with four points. 

“You can aim away from trouble. And the on the way in, the fairways are tilted so much from right to left you actually want to hit a cut against them.

“It suits my ball flight I have to say, it's my kind of golf course. Hopefully I can keep doing what I'm doing and give myself a chance this weekend.”

As is well documented, McDowell grew up and learned his trade on the links at Royal Portrush in Northern Ireland so the 33 year old is very much at home on courses such as Thracian Cliffs, perched spectacularly over the Black Sea along the Cape Kaliakra in Bulgaria.

After his victory against Wood on Thursday, McDowell commented: “It's very fiery, very linksy. It's stunning to look at it; it's tricky; it's funky in places, but you've got to get on with it and if you hit good shots and place the ball well, you get rewarded.”

With winds gusting up to 25 miles per hour on Friday afternoon, the 18-hole signature course certainly needed some careful management and McDowell again embraced his favourite tag to handle the challenge with aplomb, moving four up through seven holes thanks to birdies at the first, third, fifth and seventh holes.

Gallacher, though, reduced the deficit to one with three hole victories in succession from the ninth but McDowell rallied again with wins at the 14th and 15th and a concession from the Scot at the following hole brought handshakes as The Ryder Cup star marched into the next round in Kavarna.

“It was a good game,” McDowell continued. “I got off to a fast start, played beautiful the first eight holes and kind of started getting in a little trouble which you can do around this golf course. I hit two bad tee shots and all of a sudden Stephen wins three on the spin and it's back to grinding again.

“Stephen returned the favour with a couple bad tee shots of his own coming in and thankfully made my job a little easier.

“It's a tough one. He's out there fighting for his life; a halve match will do me, but you want to put the game away. 

“These group stages can be kind of a little bit banana skins and you sort of knuckle down and get through and get into the real stuff this weekend.”

McDowell, the runner-up at this event in 2012 when Nicolas Colsaerts prevailed, also spoke of his relief at closing out his opening group ties in relatively concise fashion.

“You certainly want to conserve energy,” he reflected. “You want to get into the weekend first and foremost but you want to be trying to stay fresh. This golf course is reasonably demanding physically but we are getting lots of cart rides out there so it’s not too bad. 

“There are 36 holes a day for the next two days if you want to go all the way and you have to take that into account. I'll sleep well tonight and hopefully be ready for a big day tomorrow.”

American Bo Van Pelt awaits in the last-16 for McDowell in the final tie out on Saturday morning and the man who conquered Pebble Beach in 2010 will no doubt arrive steely-eyed and focussed, as he continues his bid to triumph on its European little brother on Sunday afternoon.

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Melbourne World Cup Confusion

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There is confusion over what Irish representation will be at this year's World Cup amid reports that a Northern Ireland team may play in Melbourne. In previous World Cups, an all-island Ireland team has competed.

However, the issue over whether Rory McIlroy or Graeme McDowell should represent Britain or Ireland in the Olympics could affect the World Cup.

World Cup organisers said earlier this week that a Northern Ireland team would compete at Royal Melbourne.

This was announced in a statement from the International Federation of PGA Tours as the Australian course was officially unveiled as the venue for the World Cup on 21-24 November.

"The major difference between the World Cup qualification model and that of the Olympic golf competition is that England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland will each be considered a separate country," said the International Federation of PGA Tours statement.

There was no reference in the statement to whether an Ireland or Republic of Ireland team will also compete in Australia.

McIlroy and McDowell have played for Ireland in the last two World Cups but McIlroy confirmed last month that he would not do so this year as it would rule out the possibility of him playing for Great Britain in the 2016 Olympics.

For his part, McDowell said that he was determined to play at Royal Melbourne even if that closed the door to him representing Britain at the Rio Olympics.

McDowell added that he wanted world number two McIlroy to be his partner in Australia.

On hearing of the apparent change earlier this week, McIlroy said: "That might change things a little".

Players and countries are selected from the world ranking until the 60-man field is set for the event, which runs from 21-24 November.

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New Path for Rory McIlroy?

Rory McIlroy is expected to split with his current agents to set up his own management company, barely a year after parting company with his former representatives at ISM.

McIlroy, the world No. 2, is currently represented by Dublin-based Horizon Sports after leaving Chubby Chandler's International Sports Management (ISM) agency in 2011.

At the time of his split with ISM McIlory said he was unhappy with the way his career was moving and soon after signed with Horizon. He has since made the decision to re-locate to the United States and has also agreed a variety of new endorsements - including an agreement with Nike.

The 24-year-old Holywood born golfer is now widely expected to create his own management company to deal with his affairs - with family and close friends tasked with looking out for his interests.

Horizon chief Conor Ridge refused to comment when asked if McIlroy is set to split from the company, despite insistence in the Irish media that the decision has already been made.

"We simply do not comment on industry rumours or speculation," Ridge told the Irish Independent. "Horizon Sports Management always has and always will give first priority to the confidentiality of its clients."

McIlroy is expected to strike out on his own, having taken the advice of tennis superstar Roger Federer - who, along with his long-time agent, left global agency IMG last year to handle his affairs directly.

A third Nike ambassador, world No. 1 golfer Tiger Woods, previously did something similar with the IMG agent he had his entire professional career, Mark Steinberg.

"He's a role model, someone I can pattern myself after," McIlroy told the New York Times, speaking about Federer's handling of his image.

While dissatisfaction with some of his sponsorship deals and a rift with other senior clients - notably Westwood - was believed to be a factor in McIlroy's departure from ISM, no reason has been given for his decision to leave Horizon.

However, McIlroy was widely criticised for his walk-off at the recent Honda Classic - an event Horizon agent was present  and one where the company put out a confusing statement that only fuelled the controversy.

"I'm not going to say we handled it perfectly," Ridge said of the tournament. "I'm sure we could have done something better."

Some of McIlroy's other comments to the New York Times suggest he craves the personal approach, perhaps to a greater extent than even Horizon can offer.

"There's no set way to do it," McIlroy said about his representation. "I think it's a good thing for me that I'm with a smaller company. They are always looking out for what's best for me."

"What we're dealing with and what's going on in my life now is new to everyone around me and it's a learning experience and it's a learning curve and you learn every day.

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