Laying low pays off for G-Mac

THE GHOSTS of the many St Andrews legends like Old and Young Tom Morris and Willie Auchterlonie would have nodded approvingly as they watched Graeme McDowell play the last four holes of yesterday’s second round in the Open Championship.

When the recently-crowned US Open champion set out at 8.42am, the rain was falling steadily but the wind was of no great consequence. By the time he turned for home, however, the 40mph gusts that shortly afterwards led to the postponement of play were arriving, while some fierce showers also contributed to extremely testing conditions.

Even though he bogeyed the 12th and failed to birdie the long 14th, McDowell remained unruffled and proceeded to play the final four in two under par to sign for a 68 and a five under par total of 139.