G-MAC: I’M NOW BACK ON TRACK
AFTER missing another cut at the 2017 US Open, Graeme McDowell felt he had to show his silver trophy to his young daughters to prove he had been a Major champion.
Next week the revitalised Ulsterman is returning to Pebble Beach as a winner again – and looking to book a ticket home to Royal Portrush. G-Mac’s comeback is not yet complete.
Nine years ago he won the US Open title at the famous Californian course, reached world No.4 and sealed the winning point at the Ryder Cup. Then life, marriage and two children got in the way.
After the Honda Classic this year he was down at world No.259.
McDowell admitted: “The US Open provided sustenance when I was struggling. I was watching Brooks Koepka win the US Open at Erin Hills with my daughters on the couch and I went to the office to get the trophy because they didn’t believe I’d won it.
“It was a poignant moment. I’d missed the cut, was struggling and was thinking, ‘Maybe what it’s going to boil down to, I’ll have to pull the trophies out and remind them of yesteryear when I used to be good’.
“I thought, ‘There have been moments, is this it? Is this all I got? Is this reflection time?’ Now thankfully I’ve bought myself a couple of years where I can show whether I’ve still got it. I think I have.”
McDowell, 39, finally refound his on-course fluency by winning his fourth PGA title in the Dominican Republic in March (above) – his first victory since November 2015.
“It had been a 100lb gorilla on my back for the last three years as I fought for my card,” he added.
McDowell has another prize to play for in the next few weeks – qualifying for The Open in his home town.
“It’s going to be a special few weeks going back to Pebble then Portrush, but it’s not going to be very special if I’m not in the field,” he said.
“All I can do is play as well as I can. If I’m swinging it the way I am doing, I will be in Portrush. Simple as that.”