After going so close to a second U.S. Open success in three years, Northern Ireland’s Graeme McDowell has set his sights on lifting the Claret Jug.
McDowell insists his agonising defeat at the Olympic Club has made him even more determined to become Open champion at Royal Lytham.
‘G Mac’ headed into the final round as joint leader in the last group with American Jim Furyk but ended up tied second with another American, Michael Thompson, on one over par.
“I fancy a run at that Claret Jug,” said McDowell.
- A dejected-looking Graeme McDowell after missing a putt at the last to miss out on making it U.S. Open play-off. (Photo – Eoin Clarke/www.golffile.ie)
“To have the chance to win and come up one short the way I was hitting it even when I wasn’t on top of my game, I believe I can win more Major championships.
“I am disappointed but part of me is also proud I battled back from a disappointing start.
“It was never really in my grasp but I nearly got there.
“It has reinforced to me that I can compete and win more Major championships.
“It’s been a frustrating five or six weeks for me but I knew in my heart my game was better than my results were showing and it was just great to put it up there at a Major.”
McDowell’s rounds of 69, 72, 68 and 73 at Olympic were creditable as the course was so tight, quick and difficult.
“It’s like a really fast, scary rollercoaster that you get on at the time and you’re not sure if you like it,” added McDowell.
“But once it’s done and you look back you realise you had a lot of fun and you would like to do it again. That kind of sums up what it’s like to compete on the big stage at a Major.
“So it hurts. You want it really badly, youpractise so hard to be there and it hurts when you’re there.
“But when it’s all done you think back and you think, ‘I would like to do that again’.”
