'Still something left in the tank'
Northern Ireland's Graeme McDowell says contending for his first LIV Golf title reminded him that he still has "something left in the tank". The 2010 US Open champion led during the final round in Virginia on Sunday before being edged out by Chile's Joaquin Niemann, who shot an eight-under 63 to clinch his fourth win of the season. McDowell, whose last win came at the Saudi International in February 2020, made just two bogeys across the three rounds to finish one stroke behind Niemann. "I'm very proud of what I'm doing out here and the way I've committed myself to continuing to work, continuing to grind, and sometimes you need a little something back just to remind you that you've still got something left in the tank," said the former world number four.
McDowell carded five birdies in a bogey-free 66 on Sunday, but his momentum was stalled by two weather delays as heavy rain hit Robert Trent Jones Golf Club. After a birdie on the 17th, the 45-year-old gave himself the chance to match Niemann's 15-under mark on the final green, but missed his putt on the left."I'm happy with the fight. It was tough to keep the momentum going with the breaks. I just asked Joaco [Niemann]'s caddie what they did in the second break because whatever they did was good," added the four-time Ryder Cup player. "It's hard to play loose when you need it, when you kind of haven't been there for a while. "But I was really happy the way I composed myself generally today. Drove the ball great. I felt pretty comfortable out there."Hopefully a big summer ahead, and like I said in the presser, [I've] been so disappointed with my general performance on LIV this to point, this is what I expect of myself still. Really nice to get the juices flowing a little bit. I'm super excited about the week."
McDowell focused on Portrush return
Having failed to qualify for the US Open last week, McDowell is targeting a return to major competition on home soil at the Open Championship at Royal Portrush next month.He finished tied for 57th when the Open returned to Portrush in 2019. He will play in the next LIV event in Dallas on 29 June before attempting to qualify for the Open in the final qualifying event at Royal Cinque Ports in Kent. "I'm going to use this as momentum to take forward to Dallas and then on to the British Open qualifier," said McDowell, who has not played in a major since the 2020 US Open. "Setting my sights on those two weeks. Dallas is a course that I've looked at and I like it."
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Leader Live
9 minutes ago
- Leader Live
Emma Raducanu makes short work of opening win at Queen's
The 22-year-old, who secured a first doubles victory with partner Katie Boulter on Monday, revealed before the tournament – the first time Queen's has hosted women's tennis in 52 years – that she was still managing ongoing back issues, playing down expectations for this WTA 500 event, boasting a £1million prize pot. But wild card Raducanu was in fine form on Tuesday afternoon on centre court – the day before inaugurated as the Andy Murray Arena – where she dispatched Bucsa in just one hour and four minutes, much to the delight of the home crowd who were behind the 2021 US Open champion the whole way. 'I must say I was quite locked in today,' Raducanu said on court. 'I'm very pleased with my performance. I was a little bit nervous for sure at the beginning, it's my first time playing on this court at Queen's in London, and the support is incredible. 'I'm still trying to find my groove on this surface, there are certain shots that I feel like I am a little bit late on, so I'm working on that. 'I knew today was going to be a very difficult match. I actually lost to Cristina earlier on in the year, so I was really trying to fight and make sure that didn't happen again. 'I was really trying to fight and get myself into the second round, because I just want to stay here playing at Queen's as many matches as I possibly can.' This was Raducanu's first appearance on the west London venue's marquee stage after making her Queen's debut on the smaller Court One on Monday with British number one Boulter. The latter also punched her ticket to the second round but in much grittier fashion, battling to a 7-6 (4) 1-6 6-4 victory over Australian qualifier Ajla Tomljanovic. 'When I walked out it actually surpassed what I thought it would feel like when I kind of imagined it,' said Boulter, adding: 'I think it's very easy to get caught up in just trying to get your first grass court match, also coming to such an historic venue as well, which holds a lot of purpose and a lot of familiar feelings when I've come here before.' Earlier, Heather Watson set up a second-round meeting with fourth seed and former Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina after upsetting world number 27 Yulia Putintseva, 107 places above her in the rankings, 6-4 6-3. Former British number one Watson won all four of her break points to see off her Kazakh opponent in an hour and 22 minutes. All smiles at @QueensTennis for @HeatherWatson92 🤗#BackTheBrits 🇬🇧 | #HSBCChampionships — LTA (@the_LTA) June 10, 2025 Tuesday's results ensured four Britons qualified for the round of 16 after Sonay Kartal set up a meeting with American eighth seed Amanda Anisimova by beating Daria Kasatkina 6-1 3-6 6-3 on Monday. It was not to be for British wildcard Fran Jones, however, who was defeated in straight 6-2 6-4 sets by American McCartney Kessler, while the other all-British pair in the doubles draw, Kartel and Jodie Burrage, were knocked out in a nervy 7-6 (8) 7-6 (1) defeat to Lyudmyla Kichenok and Erin Routliffe.
Rhyl Journal
18 minutes ago
- Rhyl Journal
Emma Raducanu makes short work of opening win at Queen's
The 22-year-old, who secured a first doubles victory with partner Katie Boulter on Monday, revealed before the tournament – the first time Queen's has hosted women's tennis in 52 years – that she was still managing ongoing back issues, playing down expectations for this WTA 500 event, boasting a £1million prize pot. But wild card Raducanu was in fine form on Tuesday afternoon on centre court – the day before inaugurated as the Andy Murray Arena – where she dispatched Bucsa in just one hour and four minutes, much to the delight of the home crowd who were behind the 2021 US Open champion the whole way. 'I must say I was quite locked in today,' Raducanu said on court. 'I'm very pleased with my performance. I was a little bit nervous for sure at the beginning, it's my first time playing on this court at Queen's in London, and the support is incredible. 'I'm still trying to find my groove on this surface, there are certain shots that I feel like I am a little bit late on, so I'm working on that. 'I knew today was going to be a very difficult match. I actually lost to Cristina earlier on in the year, so I was really trying to fight and make sure that didn't happen again. 'I was really trying to fight and get myself into the second round, because I just want to stay here playing at Queen's as many matches as I possibly can.' This was Raducanu's first appearance on the west London venue's marquee stage after making her Queen's debut on the smaller Court One on Monday with British number one Boulter. The latter also punched her ticket to the second round but in much grittier fashion, battling to a 7-6 (4) 1-6 6-4 victory over Australian qualifier Ajla Tomljanovic. 'When I walked out it actually surpassed what I thought it would feel like when I kind of imagined it,' said Boulter, adding: 'I think it's very easy to get caught up in just trying to get your first grass court match, also coming to such an historic venue as well, which holds a lot of purpose and a lot of familiar feelings when I've come here before.' Earlier, Heather Watson set up a second-round meeting with fourth seed and former Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina after upsetting world number 27 Yulia Putintseva, 107 places above her in the rankings, 6-4 6-3. Former British number one Watson won all four of her break points to see off her Kazakh opponent in an hour and 22 minutes. All smiles at @QueensTennis for @HeatherWatson92 🤗#BackTheBrits 🇬🇧 | #HSBCChampionships — LTA (@the_LTA) June 10, 2025 Tuesday's results ensured four Britons qualified for the round of 16 after Sonay Kartal set up a meeting with American eighth seed Amanda Anisimova by beating Daria Kasatkina 6-1 3-6 6-3 on Monday. It was not to be for British wildcard Fran Jones, however, who was defeated in straight 6-2 6-4 sets by American McCartney Kessler, while the other all-British pair in the doubles draw, Kartel and Jodie Burrage, were knocked out in a nervy 7-6 (8) 7-6 (1) defeat to Lyudmyla Kichenok and Erin Routliffe.
Glasgow Times
an hour ago
- Glasgow Times
Emma Raducanu makes short work of opening win at Queen's
The 22-year-old, who secured a first doubles victory with partner Katie Boulter on Monday, revealed before the tournament – the first time Queen's has hosted women's tennis in 52 years – that she was still managing ongoing back issues, playing down expectations for this WTA 500 event, boasting a £1million prize pot. But wild card Raducanu was in fine form on Tuesday afternoon on centre court – the day before inaugurated as the Andy Murray Arena – where she dispatched Bucsa in just one hour and four minutes, much to the delight of the home crowd who were behind the 2021 US Open champion the whole way. Emma Raducanu was 'locked in' during a comprehensive straight sets win (John Walton/PA) 'I must say I was quite locked in today,' Raducanu said on court. 'I'm very pleased with my performance. I was a little bit nervous for sure at the beginning, it's my first time playing on this court at Queen's in London, and the support is incredible. 'I'm still trying to find my groove on this surface, there are certain shots that I feel like I am a little bit late on, so I'm working on that. 'I knew today was going to be a very difficult match. I actually lost to Cristina earlier on in the year, so I was really trying to fight and make sure that didn't happen again. 'I was really trying to fight and get myself into the second round, because I just want to stay here playing at Queen's as many matches as I possibly can.' This was Raducanu's first appearance on the west London venue's marquee stage after making her Queen's debut on the smaller Court One on Monday with British number one Boulter. Katie Boulter finally saw off Ajla Tomljanovic (John Walton/PA) The latter also punched her ticket to the second round but in much grittier fashion, battling to a 7-6 (4) 1-6 6-4 victory over Australian qualifier Ajla Tomljanovic. 'When I walked out it actually surpassed what I thought it would feel like when I kind of imagined it,' said Boulter, adding: 'I think it's very easy to get caught up in just trying to get your first grass court match, also coming to such an historic venue as well, which holds a lot of purpose and a lot of familiar feelings when I've come here before.' Earlier, Heather Watson set up a second-round meeting with fourth seed and former Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina after upsetting world number 27 Yulia Putintseva, 107 places above her in the rankings, 6-4 6-3. Former British number one Watson won all four of her break points to see off her Kazakh opponent in an hour and 22 minutes. Tuesday's results ensured four Britons qualified for the round of 16 after Sonay Kartal set up a meeting with American eighth seed Amanda Anisimova by beating Daria Kasatkina 6-1 3-6 6-3 on Monday. It was not to be for British wildcard Fran Jones, however, who was defeated in straight 6-2 6-4 sets by American McCartney Kessler, while the other all-British pair in the doubles draw, Kartel and Jodie Burrage, were knocked out in a nervy 7-6 (8) 7-6 (1) defeat to Lyudmyla Kichenok and Erin Routliffe.
