Graeme McDowell Misses Open Qualifying After Airline Loses Clubs

G-Mac has had to pull out of Open Final Qualifying after his clubs were lost

Graeme McDowell Misses Open Qualifying
(Image credit: Getty Images)

G-Mac has had to pull out of Open Final Qualifying after his clubs were lost

Graeme McDowell Misses Open Qualifying After Airline Loses Clubs

Graeme McDowell is not playing in Open Final Qualifying today as he has no clubs.

The Northern-Irishman was due to play at St Annes Old Links in Lytham Saint Annes but his bag was lost on an Air France flight.

G-Mac has subsequently pulled out of the qualifying, where three players make it through to the Open in two weeks, and will instead attempt to take one of the three spots on offer at this week's Irish Open.

He is also playing in next week's Scottish Open where another three spots are on offer.

McDowell's clubs were lost on a flight from Paris to Manchester.

He announced his withdrawal on Twitter, saying that he "cannot give 100%" without his own equipment.

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The 10-time European Tour winner has been questioned as to why he can't use another set of clubs in a similar spec.

He replied on Twitter saying, "Lots of you wanting to know why I don’t grab a set off the rack and give it my best shot to get in @TheOpen.

"Of course I could do this, but wouldn’t be firing on all cylinders and there are 6 spots up for grabs next 2 weeks at @DDFIrishOpen and @ScottishOpen."

Final Qualifying takes place today across the UK with three places each on offer at Notts, Prince's, the Renaissance Club and St Annes Old Links.

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McDowell will tee it up, if he has his clubs, at Ballyliffin this week for the Irish Open. The Scottish Open takes place next week at Gullane.

And then it's the big one. The Open visits Carnoustie for the first time since 2007 when Padraig Harrington edged out Sergio Garcia.

Jordan Spieth defends the Claret Jug after winning at Royal Birkdale last year in spectacular fashion.

Elliott Heath
News Editor

Elliott Heath is our News Editor and has been with Golf Monthly since early 2016 after graduating with a degree in Sports Journalism. He manages the Golf Monthly news team as well as our large Facebook, Twitter and Instagram pages. He covered the 2022 Masters from Augusta National as well as five Open Championships on-site including the 150th at St Andrews. His first Open was in 2017 at Royal Birkdale, when he walked inside the ropes with Jordan Spieth during the Texan's memorable Claret Jug triumph. He has played 35 of our Top 100 golf courses, with his favourites being both Sunningdales, Woodhall Spa, Western Gailes, Old Head and Turnberry. He has been obsessed with the sport since the age of 8 and currently plays off of a six handicap. His golfing highlights are making albatross on the 9th hole on the Hotchkin Course at Woodhall Spa, shooting an under-par round, playing in the Aramco Team Series on the Ladies European Tour and making his one and only hole-in-one at the age of 15 - a long time ago now!


Elliott is currently playing:


Driver: Titleist TSR4

3 wood: Titleist TSi2

Hybrids: Titleist 816 H1

Irons: Mizuno MP5 5-PW

Wedges: Cleveland RTX ZipCore 50, 54, 58

Putter: Odyssey White Hot OG #5

Ball: Srixon Z Star XV