McDowell not fazed by first Augusta challenge

GRAEME McDOWELL had little reason to stroll around in the glorious sunshine at Augusta National yesterday with the confidence of a man attempting to win the Masters green jacket at the first attempt.

The 25-year-old Portrush man certainly wasn't claiming he can emulate Horton Smith in the inaugural event in 1934, Gene Sarazen in 1935, and Fuzzy Zoeller in 1979, as the only first-time winners, but he was very much hoping to be among the leaders when they turn for home on Sunday afternoon. Augusta rookies aren't supposed to do that. Tradition and history insist that instead they show their respect for Bobby Jones's golfing masterpiece and learn how to cope with the intrinsic difficulties of the course so as to be able to come back fully equipped to at least make a challenge for one of golf's four greatest championships.

If that's the way it has to be this week, then that's okay with Graeme McDowell. He visited Augusta for the first time last Thursday with Ian Poulter and was immediately bowled over by the place, even though he had been looking forward to it since he was a little boy watching on television. However, neither is he one to settle for second best, to fear tackling the big boys or to shirk the challenge if and when he has played himself into their midst on the final day of a tournament. The manner in which he handled himself in finishing runner-up in the recent Bay Hill Invitational and in the process played himself into the Players Championship and the Masters is evidence of that.