Graeme McDowell won a first Aberdeen Asset Management Scottish Open along the shores of Loch Lomond and now he’s primed to win a second along the Moray Firth.
Victory in the 2008 Scottish Open also propelled McDowell also into a first European Ryder Cup team and he’s naturally looking for a first win this season could help see him earn a fifth straight Team cap.
It will be McDowell’s first visit to Castle Stuart since 2011 when he shot a second round 64 to share with lead with Fifer Peter Whiteford but in a year the event was reduced to 54 holes after torrential rain saw a number of landslides about the course
“I haven’t been back to Castle Stuart since that ‘landslide year’ and it was that tough year for sponsors Barclays as we had hurricanes at the Barclays in New York, landslides at the Scottish and then the 54-holes due to monsoon rains in Singapore,” he said.
Graeme McDowell returning to Castle Stuart to make his own ‘landslide’,
“Castle Stuart is an awesome piece of land and I did have a case of ‘foot-in-mouth’ a few years back when at the Irish Open I criticised the course and without trying to.
“So looking forward to getting back to Castle Stuart and with the Scottish Open is the second of a five week stretch for me but after missing the cut in the French, I need a good, strong showing at Castle Stuart.”
However ‘G Mac’ is coming off missing the cut in the French Open with scores of 80 and 73 but confessing mental issues were to blame for his starting score.
“I was disappointed to shoot that 80 on Thursday but mentally my head was in the wrong place as I just had some stuff on my mind,” said McDowell.
“Nothing life-threatening and certainly no alarm bells ringing as technically and physically I am fine, and maybe it was just the kick in the arse I needed.
“So heading now to the Scottish, The Open and the PGA Championship is three big weeks and it’s also about the Ryder Cup as I want to be there at Hazeltine.
“The Ryder Cup is one of those things that you can’t control and you can only control it going through the big-picture stuff and hoping the Ryder Cup gets in the way.
“I would love to be at Hazeltine but if I’m not there, I am just going to move on as it’s not going to be the end of my world but I won’t let it affect my next couple of months.”
In fact, McDowell hasn’t wasted his time after missing the French Open cut and is spending the weekend getting familiar with Royal Troon.
“That’s the silver lining in not playing all four days of the French as I get to spend a few days at Royal Troon.
“Royal Troon in 2004 was my very first Major debut so looking forward to this weekend there and then onto Castle Stuart.”
