Graeme McDowell shouted out ‘Perfect’ after learning he will play the opening two rounds of the 77th Masters in the company of former champion, Zach Johnson and Korean K J Chio.
McDowell, competing in his sixth Masters and coming off last year’s best finish of 12th, will tee up in the season’s first Major at 9.50am local time.
“The buzz instantly kicks in the second you drive in through the gates as it’s such a special place with the signs saying: ‘Augusta National. Member Only’ and you take the drive down Magnolia Lane and drive round the front of the clubhouse to the car park.
“It’s been a long time since the PGA at Kiawah Island but it comes around fast and here we are.”
McIlroy arrived on Sunday afternoon in the company of his finacee, Kristin and father Kenny and got his first look at the course Monday with a full practice round.
McDowell is hoping his next victory will be this week’s Masters
He then played a full practice round, apart from a 15-mintue stop for lunch, yesterday (TUES) in the company of fellow Royal Portrush member and reigning British Amateur champion, Alan Dunbar.
“I’m excited that this is now the beginning of a new Major season and Augusta National is one of those golf courses where I have been working hard to master and every year I do come back I feel as though I can see my way better around this course.
“So I am really enjoying the build-up, so far and looking forward to the gun going off on Thursday.”
McIlroy’s last event was finishing mid-field three weeks ago in the Arnold Palmer Invitational and ending the week with a 69 after three earlier scores in the 70s.
He spent much of last week working at the short-game practice area at Lake Nona.
And this is the second straight season McDowell will stick with a routine of not playing the week before the Majors, and with the only exception being the $8.75m WGC – Bridgestone Invitational and the week before August’s PGA Championship.
“I was reasonably successful taking the week off before the first three Majors last year and I’m going to stick with that notion this year,” he said.
“So if you have a good year you stick to what works and if you don’t do as well as you would have like to, you change your schedule.
“So I’ve gone with my week off before the Masters again this year and try and conserve energy in the build-up to Thursday so that I’ve got plenty still in the tank for Sunday.”
As McDowell headed back out to complete yesterday’s practice round he was asked what he thought of his tee time and grouping.
“Who am I playing with?” was his reaction.
And when informed, McDowell exclaimed: “Perfect!
“It’s a very strong pairing with a former winner in Zach and K J is a very solid player. All three of us are not the longest players in the well but I do feel, having played with Zach and K J, that our short games could put us in good stead.
“I also see the three of us as good grinders, so all in all it’s a good draw and I’m delighted as getting a good draw is one of those little keys you need around here.”
