Graeme McDowell's hopes of winning a third consecutive Open de France ended this afternoon. The former US Open champion shot a +7 round of 78 to miss the cut by four strokes.
The Portrush native was looking to become only the second player to win the Open de France for three years in a row. Home player Marcel Dallemagne won the tournament from 1936-38.
McDowell started the day only four shots behind overnight leaders Victor Dubuisson and Rafael Cabrera-Bello, but he fell out of contention on the back nine. He failed to make a birdie all day and three bogeys added to two double bogeys meant McDowell got the weekend off.
Paul McGinley and Peter Lawrie both miss out on the weekend too. They finished +6 and +8 respectively.
Damien McGrane and Michael Hoey both will play this weekend. McGrane lies inside the top 25 on +1 with Hoey two shots further back.
Only 17 players are under par at Le Golf National. Overnight leaders Dubuisson and Cabrera-Bello have been joined by two time major winner Martin Kaymer at the top of the leaderboard on -4. They lie one shot clear of five player including Francesco Molinari.
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