FORMER US OPEN CHAMPION LEFT IT LATE... G MAC I grew up here, and I know that I’ll have to grind it out
GRAEME McDOWELL predicts he will have to work hard for a fairytale ending on his hometown return.
McDowell grew up in Portrush, where dad Kenny introduced his two brothers and himself to pitch-and-putt in the town.
They then joined Rathmore golf club, which is next door to the venue that hosts The Open this week for the first time since
1951.
One sibling, Gary, ary, is even a longgserving greenkeeper at Royal
Portrush.
Bu t , in t e rms of h om e a dvantage , it’s a long time e since McDowowell has played layed there competitively petitively
– in the Irish Open of 2012, when he finished tied 14th.
The 2010 US Open champion (above) secured his qualification by sinking a huge final-hole putt at the Canadian Open just over a month ago.
“It was a massive weight off my shoulders, a massive relief, and it freed me up,” explained McDowell.
“If I had the shadow of The Open looming over me trying to qualify for that, it would have b e en qui t e difficult.” Qualifying with a bit to spare allowed him the luxury of an early look at how the R&A have set up Portrush.
He was intrigued when he visited the course to play a couple of practice rounds before last week’s Irish Open.
“I feel like I’ve done my prep now,” McDowell said. “It’s very good. A little less rough than I was expecting, perhaps.
“Obviously, in year one, I’m sure they’re a little hesitant to set it up too ridiculous.
“And And with w two- and- ahalf weeks w to go at tha that stage, they co could still do a lot.
“I’m sure they can get the rough to sprout pretty quickly. But general c conditioning w was very, very go good, tee to green. The greens were great.
““I I was t trying to approach my practice rounds up there without too much complacency.
“I was like, ‘Growing up on the golf course, should I be out here grinding? Yeah, I should be’.
“I don’t remember it very well. Aside from the Irish Open, I haven’t played competitively at Portrush in 18 years.
“I’m trying not to be complacent with my preparation. I did my usual kind of recce.
“Obviously, it will be nice to be at home, but it’s just about being competitive.
“You can’t be choosy about when you compete – and I’m just trying to compete as much as I can at the minute.”
McDowell points to “subtle” changes made – new tee boxes, some new bunkering, two new