G-Mac eyes history

Graeme McDowell admits he would love to make history and win this week’s Alstom Open de France three years in a row.

The 35-year-old secured his ninth European Tour title when he romped to a four-shot victory at Le Golf National in 2013, and he went into double figures after a one-shot triumph in the same event 12 months later.

Only five players have ever won a hat-trick of European Tour titles in the same event – Ian Woosnam, Sir Nick Faldo, Colin Montgomerie, Tiger Woods and Ernie Els – and the Northern Irishman is keen to join them.

“Having a chance to win a tournament three times in a row is very special,” he said. “I’ve always enjoyed this golf course, right back in the early days when I would come here.”

G-Mac has not enjoyed the best of fortunes this year and has rarely troubled the top of the leaderboard.

He failed to make the weekend at his last two events stateside and he feels it is high time he got back to winning ways.

“Really I have to start the ball rolling again and start that momentum gathering,” he added. “I feel a lot happier where I am mentally now than where I was four or five months ago.

“I know I’m good enough and I know that if I keep doing what I’m doing, that things will come back.”

Tagged European Tour, French Open, G-Mac, Graeme McDowell