MAKE MINE A DOUBLE
Bullish McDowell is eyeing twin triumph on return to Ireland
Nineteen summers after he won amateur events at Lahinch and Royal Portrush, a rejuvenated Graeme McDowell will tread the same sacred turf over the next three weeks believing he can match those feats at the irish Open and the Open.
‘i do believe i’m playing well enough to win both tournaments, it’s as simple as that,’ said the 39-year-old northern irishman, in a clear illustration of his renewed confidence following three years in the wilderness.
McDowell, who hails from Portrush, earned his spot in the Open with a wonderful performance at the Canadian Open last month and followed it with a tied-16th finish in the US Open at Pebble Beach.
‘As the last winner of the US Open at Pebble, i felt like that was a great dry run for these two weeks in the spotlight and i coped well with the pressure,’ said McDowell, who can draw upon another happy omen — in 2010, he won the Wales Open a fortnight before his major victory.
First up today is the irish Open and G-Mac confessed he remembered little about the wondrous, quirky links here, featuring a par three on which you can’t see the green from the tee.
‘My memories are better for what happened off the course in the town rather than on it,’ he said, smiling.
tournament host Paul McGinley acknowledged that the absence of Rory Mcilroy was a ‘huge body blow’ but, with a fine weather forecast, sell-out crowds and the likes of tommy Fleetwood, defending champion Russell Knox, ian Poulter and Jon Rahm in attendance, this should prove a worthy warm-up for the Open.
‘i think anyone who is serious about winning the Open ought to be playing competitive links golf in the build-up,’ warned Ryder Cup captain Padraig Harrington, who did just that on his way to winning two Claret Jugs. ‘this is perfect in that regard. ‘Some guys don’t want to play three weeks in a row. Some guys feel like they peak after playing one tournament. Other guys feel like they peak after playing two tournaments. We’re all different in that sense.
‘i was always mightily impressed when tiger Woods would play in a major without playing the week before. i’d be a basket case if i didn’t play the week before.
‘Different personalities, completely different. But i do think links golf is different.
‘there’s no better way to understand your clubbing than when you’ve got a card in your hand and if you under club there’s a little bit of pain and you remember it.’
Brooks Koepka, meanwhile, admits he will be relying heavily on the local knowledge of his caddie Ricky elliott when he seeks a first Open Championship title.
Koepka, who has won four majors in his last nine major starts and finished second in the Masters, first in the USPGA and second in the US Open this season, has never been to northern ireland before, never mind played Royal Portrush.
However, elliott is a Portrush native and will provide invaluable local knowledge.
‘i hope he knows that golf course like the back of his hand,’ said Koepka ahead of the 3M Open in Minnesota.
‘it’s links golf, it’s always a bit different. i enjoy it because i see ten, 15 different shots every time i’m over the ball.
‘He (Ricky) knows that course probably better than anybody apart from G-Mac (Graeme McDowell).’