No sooner had Graeme McDowell arrived in Houston and he was on the Redstone practice range under the watchful eye of long-time coach, Peter Cowen.
Peter Cowen watches over Graeme McDowell on the Redstrone practice range. (Photo - www.golfbytourmiss.com)
McDowell flew in from Orlando and while making his way to the range, caddy Ken Comboy was getting his first ever look at the Shell Houston Open host venue.
But little did Comboy know that it’s an 11-kilometer walk from the first tee to the 18th green around the Tournament Course.
“We measured the course using one of those machines and including the walk between the green and tees it’s 11 kilometres ,” said Cowen.
McDowell, despite a final round 74, is coming off a best finish this year of second in last week’s Arnold Palmer Invitational and just a few days after his Lake Nona side won the made-for-TV Tavistock Cup.
His Bay Hill effort was worth $US 848,000 to McDowell and lifted him to 18th on the 2012 money list with earnings this year of $US 947,900.
And before heading out inspect the course, Comboy indicated McDowell’s result last week could not have been more timely with the Masters just over a week away.
This week also is his just his fifth event of the year.
McDowell will play the opening two rounds of the $US 6m Houston event in the company of good friend, Lee Westwood and reigning PGA Championship winner, Keegan Bradley.
It will be the first occasion G Mac will have competed in Bradley’s company.
