Graeme McDowell reflects on OHL Classic win ahead of title defence
Wednesday 9 November 2016 16:34, UK
Graeme McDowell believes victory at the 2015 OHL Classic at Mayakoba helped him realise he could still compete at the highest level.
The Northern Irishman went into last year's event in Mexico without a top-10 since his opening event of the year and languishing at No 82 in the world rankings, but took the title in a three-man play-off.
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Victory secured McDowell invites to the WGC-Cadillac Championship at Doral and the Masters, events for which the former US Open champion is yet to guarantee a place in 2017.
McDowell aims to make a similarly fast start to his PGA Tour season and move up the world rankings, having missed the cut in Las Vegas last week.
"It was a very important victory for me at the end of last season," McDowell told a pre-tournament press conference. "It opened up some nice doors for me and put me in some good positions in the FedExCup points.
"I think this time of the year is becoming very important for the PGA Tour and I think that's why we continue to see more and more players playing at this time of the year.
"It's so important that they get off to a fast start with so many great players now and it being so difficult to win.
"The win last win here was very special to me on a lot of levels and of course I'd dearly love to try and repeat it this week."
McDowell tees off for the opening two rounds alongside Charley Hoffman and Russell Knox, who finished joint runner-up with Jason Bohn last time around.
Former world No 1 Luke Donald features with Jim Furyk and former PGA champion Keegan Bradley, while Ian Poulter and Ireland's Seamus Power are also in the field.
Can McDowell defend his title? Watch the OHL Classic at Mayakoba live throughout the week on Sky Sports 4 - your home of golf.
