G-MAC HAS THE KNACK

Local star leads the Irish charge as he dreams of glory

HOMEGROWN star Graeme Mcdowell wore the contented look yesterday of a man who has gifted himself a Portstewart platform at the Irish Open.

Shortly after lunch G-mac, a beneficiary of benign condi- tions in the morning before rain clouds gathered at lunchtime, strode into the media circle after carding a solid 5-under.

The 2010 US Open champion – three shots off early leaders Daniel Im and Benjamin Hebert – didn’t know it at the time but he would end the day best placed Irishman alongside Paul Dunne. Shane Lowry, Padraig Harrington and Michael Hoey all ended their day a shot behind on 4-under while Rory Mcilroy faces a scramble to make the cut on level par. Mcdowell, whose has tumbled to No100 in the world rankings after a frustrating run of form, said: “It was a pleasing start and nice to get around a few under and stay in touch. Conditions were very, very kind to us and I was fortunate to take some advantage and take something to feed off going into Friday. I’m looking forward to getting back out.

“The crowds were great and it was a really, really good atmosphere. It could give me that little spark and belief in myself to crack on.”

How did Mcdowell, born and bred in nearby Portrush, enjoy being centre of attention for the 17,763 Irish golf fans who poured in to Port- stewart?

“I felt that the crowd gave me some really good energy,” he said. “In the past as a young man at the Irish Open, perhaps I would have taken that crowd energy and turned it into nervousness.

“Nowadays, I’m better at turning that into some fun and energy and really enjoying some of the cheers that go up. It was a lot of fun out there.”

Mcdowell, playing alongside Justin Rose (-5) and Tommy Fleetwood (-2), was relieved to turn a “mediocre day into a decent day” with four birdies on the back nine. The former World No4, who tees off at 1.20pm, said: “The course is in great shape and I’m not sure we’ll see it as easy again this weekend. It was there for the taking.

“This course, like any links club, doesn’t have a lot of teeth when the wind doesn’t blow. On a morning as easy as that conditionswise, you know you have to go and do it.” On leading the Irish charge, Mcdowell – who unlike Mcilroy, Harrington and Lowry has yet to win the Irish Open – said: “Being at home and around my family and friends for the Irish Open, I’d love to really compete this weekend. “If I was to win an Irish Open, this wouldn’t be a bad place to do it in but, listen, there’s a great field here and there’s still a lot of work to do.” Despite suffering an off-day with his driver, Greystones man Dunne

(inset) scrambled for an impressive round of 67 to end the day neck-and-neck with Mcdowell. He said: “The most important think to do was to not get too frustrated because it is easy to get on the bogey train when you do.”