Relaxed McDowell surfs wave of optimism

Graeme McDowell is not pushing the panic button after missing three cuts in a row and insists he feels nothing but good vibrations on his return to America’s west coast for the US Open.

Champion just down the coast at Pebble Beach two years ago, the Portrush ace reckons the fast-running Olympic Club sets up perfectly for his left to right shape and straight-hitting style.

“There’s certainly no panic button,” said McDowell, who missed the cut in the Players Championship, the BMW PGA and last week’s FedEx St Jude Classic in Memphis. “I’m in good form. I was disappointed with my performance in Memphis but it’s given me a chance to come here and refocus.

“I’ve done some great work with [coach] Pete Cowen and I really feel like I’ve turned a corner with a few swing thoughts.

“I’m looking forward to a big summer from here.”

McDowell believes that more than half the field will be psyched out by the tough conditions this week and honestly believes he has a Major edge.

He said: “I feel like I know what the mindset is at the US Open.

“A lot of guys do know what the mindset is out here but I think a golf course this difficult is going to take 60% of the field out of play — because 60 per cent of the guys are going to let this course get to them.

“It’s going to beat them up and that’s going to leave 40 or 50 guys who can get it round here. Those are the guys you’ve got to beat.

“You’ve got to make sure you’re one of them first and foremost and stay patient enough to be still standing come the weekend.”