Graeme McDowell is hoping to draw attention to himself during this week’s PGA Championship in Atlanta, and not for his new golf bag.
Club sponsor Srixon has issued all its players, including McDowell the brightest of bright bag in temperatures set to stay in the mid-90s all week.
The event is McDowell’s seventh straight PGA Championship showing with his best finish being 10th in 2009, and just under a year before winning the U.S. Open.
G Mac's eye-catching golf bag. (Photo - Fran Caffrey/www.golffile.ie)
But while McDowell was happy with 10th two years ago, his 2011 season has been on a downturn since grabbing third early on in both the PGA Tour’s ‘champions only’ event in Hawaii, and then a similar place result in the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship.
“I was 10th in the US PGA a couple of years ago and that excited me a lot, but it’s got to the point now that 10th in the US PGA would not excite me now, and that’s wrong,” said McDowell.
“I have to readjust my expectations as 10th this week would be a great result for me because you need results to build your confidence and build your momentum.
“So I need to get back to taking little steps that result in big steps. That’s how 2010 came about and I have to get back into reviving that.”
And McDowell says if he was having a bet on another player, he would back fellow Irishman Padraig Harrington now that he’s also working with coach, Peter Cowen.
“It doesn’t surprise me to see Padraig go to Peter, as at some point something’s got to snap, and you have to make a change, and you have to go for a different opinion,” said McDowell.
“A different set of eyes can be hugely important. Pete’s certainly one of the most successful golf coaches in the world right now. He has a great theory on the golf game, and he will not be looking at Padraig’s swing and trying to change it. He will be giving Padraig some really good thoughts as to the way the golf club should be moving.
“Pete is a theory teacher and he should give Padraig some good feels, and he could be worth a punt this week.”
