McDowell misses cut at French Open

Graeme McDowell's hopes of pulling off a rare hat-trick of title wins at the French Open bit the dust at Le Golf National on Friday.

The Northern Irishman, who has been struggling for form all year, added a second round of 78 to go with his opening 72 and at eight over par he had no chance of making the cut for the weekend.

In an uncustomarily scrappy round, on one of his favourite courses, McDowell had three bogeys and two double-bogeys.

He had been bidding to become just the second golfer to win three straight French Open titles after Marcel Dallemagne in 1938, one year before the outbreak of World War II.

He also would have been just the sixth golfer to have landed a hat-trick of European Tour titles in the same event alongside Ian Woosnam, Nick Faldo, Colin Montgomerie, Tiger Woods and Ernie Els.

McDowell said he blamed his current slump on tinkering too much with his swing and technique.

"I've just got to strip it out, back to basics. I've got a lot of golf to play. Just need courage in my pocket, get out there and work it out," said the 2010 US Open champion.

"I know it's in there. There's a little bit of clutter in there right now, but that's golf. You take the rough with the smooth. It's been a great three or four years.  I'll dig this out and I'll be back."

Also packing his bags for home was former world number one Lee Westwood of England.

An opening round of 73 was followed by an extraordinary 74 on Friday which saw him nab six birdies only to negate them with three double bogeys.
Source: AFP