Inverness, Scotland … Graeme McDowell revealed his pregnant wife was sunning herself by the pool of their Lake Nona home while he battled miserable weather in northern Scotland to emerge just four shots from the lead with a round to play in the Aberdeen Asset Management Scottish Open.

McDowell was handed the trophy in 2008 along the Bonnie Bonnie banks at Loch Lomond Golf Club.

However the Gil Hanse designed Castle Stuart layout has presented a different challenge for McDowell and posting a third day 69 to be sharing sixth spot at eight under par and only four adrift off the lead held by Swede Alex Noren.

“I know my wife is lying by the pool in Florida right now; this is not the glamorous life you think it is out here, all right, ” said McDowell.

Graeme McDowell looking to win on the European Tour for a first time in two years. (Photo – European Tour)

“I hit some nice shots on the front nine and made nothing and walked off 1-over par for the nine holes. I guess when the rain came on, I had no frustration left. So I just tried to knuckle down and make some birdies and that little run there on 13, 14 and 15 was pretty sweet and obviously kept me in the golf tournament.”#

And while the majority of his rivals donned waterproofs not McDowell.

“I don’t like waterproofs. I don’t like playing golf in rain gear,” he said.#

“I just put on an undershirt and tried to get on with it. The great thing is it’s not super cold — well, it did get cold when the rain came on but it was mild-ish early on and I felt like I only had four or five holes left so I didn’t mind getting wet and would rather have the freedom.”

McDowell has been remarking all week, the two days he spent last week at Royal Troon following missing the French Open cut, has put in good stead to win on thhe European Tour for a first occasion since 2014 when he captured back-to-back French Open titles.

And no matter where he finishes in northern Scotland McDowell’s game is going to be in superb shape heading back to Royal Troon where he made his Open debut in 2004.

“The guy who wins the Claret Jug next week is going to have to battle some of this weather we’ve seen here at Castle Stuart,” he said.

“This has been a really, really great preparation week for next week whatever happens. Taking nothing away, I’m going to be 100 percent prepared for tomorrow and the opportunity.

“So I’d love to win tomorrow obviously. It’s a packed leaderboard. No idea what the weather is going to hold for us but we know it will play some kind of a factor.”