Cool McDowell feels it’s time to deliver

GRAEME MCDOWELL is playing his fourth major championship at Pinehurst this week and even though he missed the cut in his first three efforts, he believes the time for a meaningful challenge has arrived.

Having disappointed in recent tournaments in Europe, the 25-year-old Portrush man took himself off to his new home in Florida to prepare and believes that strategy will pay a rich dividend.

“I’m enjoying the golf course; I came up here last Thursday and Friday from Orlando and played 36 holes,” he said. “There’s nothing too overbearing or scary about this course. You’ve just got to place the ball on the correct side of the greens. It should be a pretty easy two putt after that. But put it in the wrong places and you’re going to struggle. I’m pretty comfortable with set-up and the lay-out here.

“Even if I didn’t make much of a shape in last year’s British Open and US PGA or in the Masters in April, I still feel the experience will be a help this week. It’s all about preparation. You’ve got to prepare well for these things. I’m still learning as I go along and this is an experimental way of preparing for a major and it feels pretty good, so I’ll see how it works.”

McDowell believes in psyching himself up before a major tournament. For instance, he would never say beforehand that he didn’t like the course or criticise any aspect of the event. He would never admit, as Padraig Harrington claimed earlier this week, that his game is shabby. He was true to character last night when observing: “I’d prefer this to any of the other three major courses I’ve played before. You’ve really got to respect these greens and play to the correct sides, and I feel it’s suited to my short game, bumping and running and up slopes, and I quite enjoy this kind of stuff. There are bail-out areas, it’s not like Augusta where if you do bail out, you’re leaving yourself an almost impossible two putt.

“This course allows for an array of shots around the greens, flop shots, five irons, three woods to putters although the three wood doesn’t sit very easily with me.”

McDowell also insists that he won’t be deterred by the fierce humidity and heat that have prevailed here for the past few days. He is confident that his four years at college in Alabama will have acclimatised him while accepting: “This is very hot for any Irish boy to endure but I also think my two weeks in Orlando, where my house is coming along nicely and is located on the practice range, will help.”

McDowell looks the picture of health and isn’t afraid to talk up his chances: “I feel I’m a quick learner. I take positives away from most experiences, whether they’re good or bad. My game is getting better by the year so I feel I’m going in the right direction.

“It’s all about feeling comfortable wherever you are and right now I’m comfortable over here. In contrast, I never felt at ease for my first major at Troon; it was just a big circus and I found it hard to settle down. So you’ve got to learn what is best for you where preparation is concerned, like for instance some guys like to play the weeks before majors, others don’t. I’m still learning what’s best for me.”

McDowell starts his championship from the first tee at 1.30pm Irish time today with Conrad Ray from Minnesota and Steve Allan of Australia.