Graeme McDowell today celebrated his 35th birthday and with the wish of qualifying automatically for the 2014 European Ryder Cup team.
And while G Mac received plenty of wishes from his wife and family, his big wish is to avoid having to rely on a Paul McGinley wildcard pick.
“I’m 35 years young today,” he smiled.
“I’m fit, rosy and feeling like Arnold Swartzenegger.
Graeme McDowell celebrates his 35th birthday on the eve of the 2014 WGC- Bridgestone Invitational. (Photo – Eoin Clarke/www.golffile.ie)
“Kirsten has already spoiled with me with some nice presents and bought me lots of nice things like some nice wine, lots of shoes like wives do.
“I have to say I like my shoes.”
McDowell is currently 11th on the Gleneagles points table and just two spots outside of breaking into the top-nine who will qualify automatically for Paul McGinley’s team, and being based on the PGA Tour it means McDowell’s last two bites of European Ryder Cup team cherry.
“I am going for my fourth Ryder Cup in a row, so I am excited to have the opportunity ahead of me but I’ve learned to have it in the back of my mind and it’s not something that gets me fired up every week I tee it up,” he said.
“So the Ryder Cup is something that will take care of itself.
“Generally, the game is in good shape coming off a top-10 at The Open and a ninth last week in Canada so I am excited about the next few weeks.
“And I am feeling good about the fact that I have got my schedule right this season so that I feel great energy-wise and mentally wise and I’m up for the challenge.
“Also I’ve got a baby coming in four week’s so there is a lot of good things in the air for me at the moment.”
