PLAYA DEL CARMEN, Mexico: Northern Ireland’s Graeme McDowell ended a title drought of more than two years on the PGA Tour with a wonder shot to cap a spectacular playoff victory in the weather-delayed OHL Classic on Monday.
McDowell sealed the win after very nearly holing out with a five-iron on the first extra hole at the El Camaleon Golf Club in Playa del Carmen, his approach shot grazing the rim of the cup before finishing just three feet away.
The 36-year-old tapped in for birdie at the par-four 18th to edge out Scotland’s Russell Knox and American Jason Bohn, the trio having finished the regulation 72 holes at 18-under-par 266.
McDowell, who had not won on the PGA Tour since the RBC Heritage in April 2013, closed with a five-under 66, Knox with a matching 66 and Bohn with a 68.
McDowell, who had endured a mediocre year by his own standards with just one top-10 in 15 starts on the 2014-15 PGA Tour, was thrilled to see his hard work on the practice range over the past three months finally pay off with a win.
“I’ve been dreaming of this day and I said that I was going to appreciate it when it came,” the 2010 US Open champion told reporters after clinching the third PGA Tour title of his career.
“I’m going to appreciate this one, because this year has been a grind. You go through a year like this and you think, ‘Am I finished? Am I not good enough?’ You ask yourself all the questions.
“This is a result of three or four months of grinding. I’ve been working hard on my swing ... and you’ve got to take the rough with the smooth and keep trying.”
Knox, who had led by one stroke with just one hole to play in regulation, had to settle for a runner-up spot in his bid to clinch consecutive PGA Tour titles on different continents.
“I gave it my best shot and got beat by a great birdie there,” the 30-year-old Scot said of McDowell’s stunning approach on the first extra hole.
Knox, who eight days ago won the WGC-HSBC Champions in Shanghai, was at 19 under playing the 18th at El Camaleon but hit his tee shot into a fairway bunker en route to a bogey, forcing a three-way playoff for the title.
Twenty-seven players had been unable to complete the 72 holes on Sunday after the final round was interrupted by inclement weather that led to a delay of nearly four hours.
McDowell ends title drought, wins OHL Classic in three-way playoff
McDowell ends title drought, wins OHL Classic in three-way playoff
Man United climb to third, Fulham sink sorry Spurs
- Red Devils have taken their tally to 19 points from a possible 21
LONDON: Benjamin Sesko stretched his hot streak with the winning goal as Manchester United beat Crystal Palace 2-1 to go third in the Premier League, while Tottenham failed to dispel relegation fears after defeat at Fulham.
Sesko was handed his first start in seven games since Michael Carrick took charge at Old Trafford and rewarded his boss with another vital goal to edge United closer to a return to the Champions League.
Palace had taken an early lead at Old Trafford when Maxence Lacroix outmuscled Leny Yoro to guide in a header from Brennan Johnson’s corner.
But United hit back to remain unbeaten under Carrick and take their tally to 19 points from a possible 21.
The game swung on one incident as Lacroix was sent off and conceded a penalty for pulling back Matheus Cunha just before the hour mark.
Bruno Fernandes confidently stroked the resulting spot kick past former teammate Dean Henderson.
Fernandes was then the creator for the second as his curling cross was powered in by Sesko.
The Slovenian has now scored seven times in his last eight appearances to quieten critics of his £74 million ($100 million) price tag after a slow start to his career in England.
Tottenham remain perilously poised just four points above the relegation zone as interim boss Igor Tudor again failed to halt their alarming slide after a 2-1 defeat at Craven Cottage.
Harry Wilson and Alex Iwobi gave Fulham a deserved half-time lead as they moved up to ninth and back into contention for European football next season.
Richarlison headed in a late consolation for Tottenham, but they remain the only Premier League side without a win in 2026.
The one crumb of comfort for Spurs was defeat for relegation rivals Nottingham Forest, 2-1 at Brighton.
All three goals arrived in the first 15 minutes as Diego Gomez and Danny Welbeck netted for the Seagulls either side of Morgan Gibbs-White’s reply.
Forest sit two points above the drop zone ahead of a daunting trip to Manchester City on Wednesday.
