Graeme McDowell wins Alstom Open de France

Graeme McDowell shot a closing 67 to post a nine-under-par 72-hole total and win the Alstom Open de France by four shots from South Africa's Richard Sterne at Le Golf National in Paris

Graeme McDowell shot a closing 67 to post a nine-under-par 72-hole total and win the Alstom Open de France by four shots from South Africa's Richard Sterne at Le Golf National in Paris.

The Northern Irishman has now claimed three titles this year, following the PGA Tour's RBC Heritage in April and the Volvo World Matchplay at Bulgaria's striking Thracian Cliffs in May.

McDowell - who came into the event off the back of five missed cuts in six strokeplay events - said:

"It's very special of the last couple of months. It's been a bit of a battle and a bit of a funny year. My game hasn't felt far away most weeks but I have missed a lot more cuts than normal and missing cuts hurts.

"It certainly motivated me a lot the last few weeks. The US Open was a tough one to take and missing the cut in Ireland last week, it made me more hungry to want to be in positions like I was this afternoon."

McDowell started the final round tied with playing partner Sterne, but made a 15-footer for birdie at the opening hole to move one clear.

McDowell bogied the seventh and Sterne made birdies at the front nine's two par 5s to take a one-shot lead at the turn, however.

The Ulsterman moved into the lead again after 12 holes and extended his advantage to two shots after a somewhat fortuitous bounce on the 16th.

Another lucky bounce led to birdie on 17, and after Sterne dropped a shot at the same hole, the title was more or less sewn up.

Spaniard Eduardo De La Riva secured his tour card with a tie for third alongside Englishman Graeme Storme, with Simon Dyson carding a final-round 71 for outright fifth and his best result of the season.

The European Tour now heads to Castle Stuart for the Aberdeen Asset Management Scottish Open before moving to Muirfield for the Open Championship.

The Alstom Open de France Le Golf National, Paris, France July 4-7, par 71, €3,000,000

1) Graeme McDowell (NIR) 69-69-70-67 = 275 €500,000 2) Richard Sterne (RSA) 68-69-71-71 = 279 €333,330 T3) Eduardo De La Riva (ESP) 72-67-72-69 €168,900 T3) Graeme Storm (ENG) 70-68-73-69 = 280 €168,900 5) Simon Dyson (ENG) 70-68-72-71 = 281 €127,200 T6) Jamie Donaldson (WAL) 70-70-71-71 = 282 €97,500 T6) Richard Green (AUS) 69-70-70-73 = 282 €97,500 T8) Thomas Bjorn (DEN) 68-69-74-72 = 283 €61,800 T8) Stephen Gallacher (SCO) 68-70-7570 = 283 €61,800 T8) David Howell (ENG) 69-71-69-74 = 283 €61,800 T8) Soren Kjeldsen (DEN) 69-68-73-73 = 283 €61,800 T8) Gareth Maybin (NIR) 71-73-71-68 = 283 €61,800

Bold signifies Titleist golf ball usage

Nick Bonfield
Content Editor

Nick Bonfield joined Golf Monthly in 2012 after graduating from Exeter University and earning an NCTJ-accredited journalism diploma from News Associates in Wimbledon. He is responsible for managing production of the magazine, sub-editing, commissioning and feature writing. Most of his online work is opinion-based and typically centres around the Majors and significant events in the global golfing calendar. Nick has been an avid golf fan since the age of ten and became obsessed with the professional game after watching Mike Weir and Shaun Micheel win The Masters and PGA Championship respectively in 2003. In his time with Golf Monthly, he's interviewed the likes of Rory McIlroy, Justin Rose, Jose Maria Olazabal, Henrik Stenson, Padraig Harrington, Lee Westwood and Billy Horschel and has ghost-written columns for Westwood, Wayne Riley, Matthew Southgate, Chris Wood and Eddie Pepperell. Nick is a 12-handicap golfer and his favourite courses include Old Head, Sunningdale New, Penha Longha, Valderrama and Bearwood Lakes. If you have a feature pitch for Nick, please email nick.bonfield@futurenet.com with 'Pitch' in the subject line. Nick is currently playing: Driver: TaylorMade M1 Fairway wood: TaylorMade RBZ Stage 2 Hybrid: Ping Crossover Irons (4-9): Nike Vapor Speed Wedges: Cleveland CBX Full Face, 56˚, Titleist Vokey SM4, 60˚ Putter: testing in progress! Ball: TaylorMade TP5x