Five years after celebrating Father’s Day with victory in the U.S. Open and Graeme McDowell is primed to do it all again on the U.S. West Coast.
McDowell’s 2010 U.S. Open success along the Pacific Ocean shoreline at Pebble Beach ignited a dream victory run for European Tour golf.
His success heralded the start of a period of European dominance, with Northern Ireland compatriot Rory McIlroy winning the 2011 U.S Open, Englishman Justin Rose succeeding in 2013 and Germany’s Martin Kaymer teeing up this week as the defending U.S. Open winner.
Speaking ahead of his tenth appearance in the US Open, McDowell’s pride in leading the European charge across the Atlantic was self-evident.
Five years after winning on Father’s Day and Graeme McDowell remains ready to do it all again. (Photo – Eoin Clarke/www.golffile.ie)
He said: “I was the first European in 40 years to win the US Open, and now we’ve had four winners in the past five years. It’s tough to put your finger on exactly why it’s happened that way but I think we Europeans are becoming so much more comfortable on this side of the Atlantic, with so many more playing opportunities here in the WGCs and the Majors.
“So I think it’s a comfort factor, and getting familiar with the golf courses over here. Going through a purple patch has been great, it was a lot of fun to lead that charge and I would love to continue the roll this week.”
It has been some time since McDowell seriously contended in a Major Championship, but having rediscovered his drive after the birth of his daughter Vale led – by his own admission – to a dip in his on-course motivation, the 35 year old feels ready to shine again.
He said: “Over the last three or four months, I’ve decided that I want more of this stuff. I want to win more Major Championships. I have the desire back to practice again and work harder, because I love being in contention in the biggest events in the world. My win at Pebble in 2010 was amazing for me but I don’t want it to define my career. I’d like to continue defining my career from here onwards.”
Graeme McDowell looking pretty relaxed ahead of this week’s U.S. Open (Photo – Eoin Clarke/www.golffile.ie)
McDowell’s Ryder Cup team-mate, Henrik Stenson, admits he has been inspired by the exploits of his fellow European Tour Members.
The Swede is yet to break his Major duck but, having finished in the top three in both the US PGA Championship and The Open Championship during the 2013 season, and in a tie for fourth in last year’s U.S. Open, it is surely only a matter of time before he seizes his chance to join McDowell in the elite club.
Stenson said: “Of course, when some of your friends are winning Major Championships and you’ve play practice rounds with them in the past and you’ve beaten them every now and again, then you start to think that if they can do it, you can do it too. I feel like I’m getting closer and closer.
“It’s all about giving yourself opportunities, and hopefully I have three or four years left in my prime. If I can come in well prepared and have a good game-plan and put myself in the mix on a few occasions, then hopefully I can walk away with at least one of them.”
* Thanks to www.europeantour.com
