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Derek Fathauer Takes 1-shot Lead in
Posted On Nov 16 2015
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Graeme McDowell is firmly in contention, three shots of the lead, heading into the final round of the OHL Classic in Mexico.
McDowell closed with a 5-under 66 to finish at 18-under 266, and he had to make an 8-foot par putt on the final hole for that.
Russell Knox of Scotland, who won the HSBC Champions last week in Shanghai, had a 65 and was five shots behind.
McDowell opened his round with four straight pars but birdies six of his next nine to keep pace with Knox, who birdied four straight from the third through sixth and picked up shots at the eighth and 11th.
The former US Open champion shared the overnight lead with Knox when play was suspended due to darkness on Sunday following an earlier three-and-a-half hour rain delay, and play was halted again moments after the resumption as another storm whipped up.
“The two biggest keys to the year have been the driver and putter, the two things that haven’t been performing this season and probably are my strengths”, McDowell said.
“It really gives me something to grab onto”, said a beaming McDowell.
“I hit my second ball further right than I hit my first – I figured I could be going home very, very soon”.
McDowell made the 2014 European Ryder Cup team, but struggled greatly in 2015, earning less than $1 million on the PGA Tour for the first time since 2009.
American Fathauer carded a five-under-par third round of 66 at El Camaleon Golf Club to reach 16-under for the PGA Tour event in Playa del Carmen, Mexico. Am i not good enough?’ You ask yourself all the questions. “Thankfully, I had another year of exemption, but I couldn’t be in this position this time next year regardless”, he said.
McDowell plans to finish his season’s work at this week’s McGladrey Classic in Sea Island, where he played Walker Cup back in 2001.
Scott Brown (through 14 holes) and Derek Fathauer (12 holes) were four shots behind. Golf hasn’t been the priority it should be.
McDowell was well short on a 12-foot birdie putt for the lead on the par-3 15th, and he looked even more tentative on the next hole when he three-putted from 45 feet, leaving his first putt a few 10 feet short.
