Charthills Pro Newsletter - 24th June 2010
First it was Phil Mickelson at the Masters, now Graeme McDowell has continued Callaway’s clean sweep of the 2010 Majors with a nail-biting win at the US Open.
The Northern Irishman claimed his first Major in dramatic circumstances at Pebble Beach, trusting his equipment and holding his nerve to outlast a stellar field that included fellow Callaway staff players Ernie Els and Phil Mickelson.
McDowell played superbly from tee to green all week at a course that had been set up to challenge the game’s elite players. Using his trusty FT driver to devastating effect, the new world No.13 hit two-thirds of all fairways, averaging 303 yards off the tee.
And after becoming the first European in 40 years to win the event he was quick to highlight the performance of his Callaway driver in his rise to Major-Champion status. “I’ve never been the longest hitter in the world but I’ve certainly put on yardage in the last year,” he said. “I’ve always been good off the tee accuracy-wise and the US Open has always been a tournament I feel like my game is most suited to.”
He was just as impressive with his putter, averaging just 27.5 putts per round for the week on some of the toughest greens in the game. McDowell’s Odyssey #7 yielded 15 birdies over the four rounds, but it was the par saves on the final day that proved priceless as his rivals slipped away.
“My putter was kind to me this week,” said McDowell. “I putted good this week, I felt good on the greens and when I had opportunities I generally took them. It helped me make a lot of birdies.”
Callaway/Odyssey enjoyed another great week at a Major Championship with four players in the Top 10. McDowell was joined by Ernie Els (3rd), Phil Mickelson (T4) and German Alex Cejka who finished T8.
Four-time Major Champ and fellow Callaway player Phil Mickelson was quick to pay tribute: “I thought that Graeme was playing very well headed in. He had won his previous tournament and he's played very solid on a large stage a number times. So from a player’s point of view this wasn't a surprise”.
In addition to a cheque for $ 1,350,000, McDowell joins an exclusive group of Callaway Major Winners and is rewarded with a commemorative gold Odyssey belt buckle. He is also now eligible to have his name printed on his Tour i series ball... a service reserved for Callaway Major Winners!
Regards,
James
Sarah Saunders' Section
Chart Hills Members raised £10,000 for Macmillan competing in the Longest Day Challenge - 21st June 2010!
It was just before dawn when the three teams taking part in the Macmillan Longest Day Challenge made their way to Chart Hills yesterday morning. Their mission was to raise as much money as possible for the charity Macmillan Cancer Support.
The first team, a duo consisting of Ian Milner and Steve Hill, teed off at 4.30 am and had an astonishing 72 holes, coming back to the clubhouse at 2.45 (with a 30 minute shower and food break). Not only did they complete the four rounds in an extraordinarily fast time but they also came in with a best gross score of just 3 over par! This is the third year that Steve and Ian have taken part in the challenge and this year they will add another £3000 to their fund raising total.
The other two teams were from local Ashford Company, Commidea. Their two teams were in four balls and having teed off at 4.45am they wearily made it up the steps to the Spike Bar at 7.15 that evening.
Simon Wilding, managing director of Commidea was delighted to announce that the two Commidea teams had raised nearly £7000 for the charity. He said, “We were hoping to raise £5000 but the support for Commidea has just been great. Our staff have supported us throughout the day and the conditions at Chart Hills were just brilliant, so although we are all pretty exhausted we have had a fantastic day!”
With kind regards,
Sarah
