Graeme McDowell is doubly excited to be returning to Pebble Beach twice this year.
McDowell has shaken off a wrist injury that forced him out of last fortnight’s Farmers Insurance Open at Torrey Pines to commence his new season further north on the spectacular Pacific Ocean Californian shoreline at Pebble Beach.
It is just the third occasion McDowell has competed at Pebble Beach since brilliantly capturing the 2010 U.S. Open championship.
He returned to the course in 2014 to finish T7th in the AT & T and then teed-up last year only to miss the halfway cut.
“I always love coming back to Pebble though this year is different what with the U.S. Open returning here in June for a first time in nine years,” he said.
Graeme McDowell returning twice this year to Pebble Beach and where he captured the 2010 US Open
“It’s hard to believe nine years has gone so quickly but in saying that I still remember vividly that very special week in 2010.
“Though it’s not going to get any better than how I felt nine years ago. It is pretty tough to top that experience that weekend – the emotions, my dad being with me, it being also Father’s Day, winning my first major championship. They don’t come any better than that.
“It was probably why I did not return for four years as I wasn’t in a rush.
“Emotionally, I don’t think that moment will be beaten in my career. But in saying that I’m not going to put Pebble Beach up there on a pedestal and say: ‘That is the highlight of my career, because I still want more. I want more Pebbles, I want my name on another Major Championship trophy.”
Though at this stage of the season McDowell, and currently ranked a lowly No. 262 in the world, is exempt into only the U.S. Open teeing-off June 13th.
McDowell teams this week with U.S. car racing star, Ed Brown who sponsors the NASCAR Patron Team and is also himself a winning co-driver in the 2016 24-Hour Daytona race and the same year won the 12-hours of Sebring.
Brown, 55 is President and CEO of Tequila Patron
“Ed came over to Scotland last year for the Dunhill and we had a great time so he’s here with me this week for the AT & T,” said McDowell.
Lowry is teeing-up in a first PGA Tour event in some six months since the disappointment of losing his Tour card at last August’s Wyndham Championship.
Of course, he’s arrived back to the West Coast on a high after capturing a fourth career victory with success in the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship.
His only real concern in the three days of practice of what driver the Offlay golfer will take into the Euro 6.6m event.
Lowry won in Abu Dhabi using the new Callaway ‘Epic Flash’ driver in his bag but at one stage this week some eight different brand drivers were observed in his bag.
And in bumping into Lowry late on Wednesday he’s decided to pack a Srixon driver into his bag.
Lowry’s amateur partner will be Gerry McManus and the younger brother to JP McManus.
McManus will have Ronan Flood, and the long-time caddy to Padraig Harrington, as his caddy.
Flood was all smiles when congratulated for his part, whatever that may be, in Harrington being named 2020 European Ryder Cup captain.
“Yes, it’s official. I’m now the European Team’s chief cook and bottle washer,” he said smiling.
On a more serious note, Flood indicated Harrington will soon have the plaster cast removed from his injured wrist and is expecting to tee-up in the February 28th commencing Honda Classic in Florida.
Harrington is a two-time winner of the event having won a first PGA Tour title at PGA National in 2005 and then a decade later in 2015.
IRISH TEE TIMES (Irish time
Graeme McDowell – 6.01pm (Pebble Beach Golf Links)
Shane Lowry – 4pm (Spyglass Hill GC)
