KAVARNA, Bulgaria (AP) — Graeme McDowell made amends for last year’s defeat to capture the World Match-Play Championship on Sunday, defeating Thailand’s Thongchai Jaidee 2 and 1 in the final on the Thracian Cliffs course.
The former U.S. Open champion had to fight back from 2 down after four holes and did not get in front of his 43-year old opponent until the 14th hole before securing victory at the 17th.
It is McDowell’s second win in three events after he also captured the PGA Tour’s RBC Heritage earlier this month at Hilton Head, S.C.
Jaidee’s effort should see him move inside the top-50 in the rankings, high enough for a place in next month’s U.S. Open.
