Pain avoided, McDowell allows himself to dream a little
PORTRUSH, Northern Ireland - For months, Graeme McDowell was facing the unthinkable — that this week’s British Open, being held in his home town, would take place without him.
Having slumped down the world rankings, falling outside the top 250 in the world this year, the 2010 U.S Open winner was facing a real battle to earn a spot.
The 39-year-old Northern Irishman had missed out on qualification for the last two British Opens and there were only limited ways for him to get a place.
The word among the golfing community of Portrush was that if McDowell didn’t make it, he would keep a commitment to a charity function and a couple of other events before leaving town before the action began.
In the end McDowell, gained his qualification spot with a top 10 finish at the Canadian Open last month but as he prepared for today’s opening round, he admitted the pain of missing out would have been too much.
“I couldn’t stand to be here, it would be too bittersweet.
“It would be too tough to watch the guys go out there and compete on this place where I kind of learned the game,” he said.