GMac staking his claim for Europe
McDowell hits form at the right time
GrAEmE mcDowell did his ambitions of playing in a fifth ryder Cup no harm at all when he shot a superb 68 in the first round of the French Open yesterday. September’s showdown between Europe and America will be hosted here at Le Golf national, and 38-year-old mcDowell is already one of skipper Thomas Bjorn’s vice-captains.
But the northern irishman has not given up hope of a playing role, too, and Bjorn will have watched with interest as the former US Open champion made seven birdies in a three-under par round in tough, windy conditions which left him just one shot behind leader Bradley Dredge.
‘i would love to post a big finish this week and get myself back on to the edge of that radar,’ said mcDowell, after getting his bid for a third hnA Open de France title off to a sparkling start. ‘it is going to take some golf from me this summer to do that.
‘But that would be great and i still have some ambitions to play on the team. The last couple of days we have been visualising what it might be like, standing on that 16th tee, looking out and seeing the whole amphitheatre.
‘The 18th green will be tremendous and i honestly think this will be the best ryder Cup venue we have taken the Americans to in two decades.’
mcDowell’s best results so far this term have come in rolex Series events in Europe and he followed a tie for 12th at the BmW PGA Championship with a tie for fifth at the italian Open recently.
he is clearly feeling very much at home back in Europe and admits familiarity has played a part in his recent upturn in form.
‘it’s always nice to come back to a place where you played well, good feelings, good visuals,’ he said.
‘One of the important things of this golf course is something that captain Bjorn and myself have been talking about, it’s just a level of comfort that you have to have on this golf course because it is a super intimidating track.
‘You stand on the tee-boxes and all you can see is high rough and you have to be comfortable about where you’re positioning the ball off these tees.
‘having been coming here for years and having some success here, i do stand on some of these tee-boxes and feel a level of comfort.
‘having come back to Europe and getting the vice captaincy and weight of the ryder Cup being taken off my shoulders, i can come back here and freewheel.
it feels nice and i get the old feelings back that helped me become a top-100 player in the world, helped me be a top-50 player in the world and prepared me to win a major championship.
‘This is kind of where i grew up and this is where i feel most comfortable and it’s nice to come back and enjoy playing good golf.’
Andy Sullivan is also getting back to his best form with no missed cuts so far this season and four top-tens in his last five events.
he joined mcDowell on a 68 in Paris and the Englishman revealed he has some extra motivation this week after the recent loss of a loved one.
‘i feel like i’ve gone through the tough times now and come out the other side of it and feel like i’m also improving on what i had before,’ he said.
‘it’s nice to be back to form and going out there and just playing golf again.
‘There was a little bit of extra motivation out there today with the loss of a loved one close but you’ve still got to go out there and do the job and, hopefully, do one for him this week.
‘Any time you can shoot in the 60s around here, it’s special.’
World no 2 Justin Thomas, on a scouting mission here for the American ryder Cup team, carded a battling one-under-par 70.
‘maybe the great reception i received here today was because people appreciated i had come to play, i’m not sure,’ said the reigning US PGA champion.
‘But it was cool to come this far across the world and be made to feel this welcome.’
Thomas’ playing partner and defending champion Tommy Fleetwood struggled, however, to a three-over 74.
russell Knox was top Scot after opening with a 71.