McDowell muses mind over matter

IT’S one thing to have a caddy who will shoulder a golf bag over four miles and for around five hours, but it’s special when you have a guy who can also knock your head into shape!

That's the happy situation in which recent Italian Open winner Graeme McDowell finds himself.

After a relatively barren 2003, when he failed to deliver on the vast promise of his rookie year in '02 when he

captured the Scandinavian Masters, the 25-year-old from Portrush teamed up this year with Matt Harbour, an Englishman in his mid-20s, who was working as an online bookmaker and also just happened to have a college degree in psychology.

He didn't know a whole lot about caddying but that little deficiency hasn't mattered in the slightest.

"Because he is new to the job, I am able to mould him into just the kind of caddy I want," McDowell explained yesterday while preparing for the Deutsche Bank TPC Championship of Europe, starting over the St Leot course near Heidelberg tomorrow.

"Matt is into neuro-linguistic programming and that's a move more towards practical psychology, in other words breaking things down and giving it a practical experience in real life.

"This throws a few more elements into the cauldron and right now I feel the whole package is there."

Certainly, McDowell seems to be enjoying a new lease of life this season. He is extremely happy with his golf game, to such an extent he is considering trying to pre-qualify for next month's US Open at Shinnecock Hills on New York's Long Island.

He has entered for the qualifier at Lake Nona near Orlando in Florida on the sound premise that it's also the course where he does most of his practice when he is in the US. But there's still more to it.

"I feel my game is tailor-made to the US Open because I am a straight hitter," McDowell reasoned.

"A good finish this week could clinch direct entry to the British Open but I really don't want to know. I just want to focus on the tournament and prepare as well as possible without letting other distractions get in the way.

"The British Masters coming immediately after the victory in Italy was a bit much to take and I was glad to take last week off in Cardiff and reflect on Italy. After that reflection, I feel I am where I want to be.

"The win came as no shock to the system and, of course, has looked after the rest of the season without having to worry about cards and that sort of thing. I spent the weekend back home in Portrush enjoying the North West 200. There's a superb field here this week and that's what gets me all charged up and ready to go again."

He feels the St Leot course, some 20km outside the university city of Heidelberg, is quite similar to last year's venue in Hamburg except it is in a lot better condition.

McDowell is one of six Irishmen in the field. Holder Padraig Harrington arrived from unsuccessfully defending the Asian Open in China, and Darren Clarke, Peter Lawrie, Gary Murphy and Damien McGrane will also battle for the E3m prize fund, with E500,000 for the winner.

Disappointingly, Paul McGinley, who finished fifth in China in his second tournament back after knee surgery, is a late withdrawal. He is acting on doctor's orders but is assured he will be fit for next week's Volvo PGA Championship at Wentworth.