McDowell not fazed by first Augusta challenge
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.
Financial matters are no longer a problem, or so it would seem, considering that he recently bought the former home of South African golfer Trevor Immelman in Orlando at much the same time as he was also purchasing a house in Manchester.
Bearing in mind how much he achieved during his college days in Alabama and how well he performed at Bay Hill, it is a near-certainty that McDowell will spend more and more time in the States, although he insists he will divide his time between the two tours.
"It was pretty sweet driving up Magnolia Lane," he glowed. "It was cool to see the place. It's a spectacular course and I really enjoyed the 18 holes, it was a bit of a thrill to play really. The place is so well manicured. There's not a blade of grass out of place. The back nine and Amen Corner is so spectacular. It's as good as I remembered from TV. It doesn't disappoint at all. It's one of the coolest golf courses I've ever played. We've all seen spectacular shots into 10, 11, 12, there are enough highlights of old Masters on the Golf Channel to refresh those memories so I'll be tuned into a lot of those to get some eerie feelings going. I could picture a great shot into every hole on the back nine.
"Those that stand out? Mize chipping in at 11, Faldo beating Norman in '96, Nicklaus in '86 would be right up there, although I was so young I'm not sure I saw it live.
"I think number eleven is the most intimidating, the others aren't too difficult, tee to green. The second shot at 11 is exactly how you picture it. It's going to be so cool teeing it up on Thursday, it's such a special place. I watched it on TV for years and read enough stuff about it. I'll just be trying to keep the same routine. Also, we're here a day earlier than usual so the routine can be slowed down if anything. I played 18 holes today and that might be the last 18 I play. I'll probably play nine holes on Wednesday and the par 3 in the afternoon."
McDowell played yesterday with Paul Casey, the first round leader 12 months ago, and is planning nine with Padraig Harrington tomorrow. He intends to pump them for every little bit of knowledge they have of the course, just as Luke Donald, another rookie - though ranked 20th in the world - did when partnering his Ryder Cup captain and two-times winner Bernhard Langer yesterday.
When it was pointed out to McDowell that it's an absolute rarity for a first timer to leave Augusta with the green jacket, he sounded distinctly unimpressed: "Really? I feel my game is in good shape so I'm not going to set any goals, just play my game, try to play the golf course the way it should be played and respect these greens immensely."
McDowell grew up in Portrush and loved links golf from an early stage, playing the Dunluce and Valley courses almost on a daily basis. Accordingly, you might have expected him to look forward to, say, the British Open at St Andrews rather than any of the other majors but he makes it clear that this is not the case at all.
"It's always been a dream of mine to play this golf course, probably more so than any in the world," he claimed. "I'm not sure why. Maybe because it's Augusta and the first major of the year and we've all watched it on TV so may times. I don't know what it is about this major but it's the one I've always wanted to play. Being the same venue every year makes it extra special. I'm expecting to get all the adrenalin out of my system over the next few days."
"I'll be picking Padraig's brains but then I'll be picking as many as I can. I played with Poulter on Thursday and he has a bit of experience of Augusta in that he played last year and made the cut, so I was interested to pick his brain. When you feel comfortable at this kind of level, you don't sit back and claim you've arrived but I have always strove to feel comfortable in this kind of environment. It helps you to enjoy it, which is the important thing.
"I think it would be a pretty cool feeling to stand on the 10th tee on Sunday evening with the lead, although I have no idea of how I'd actually feel. It's just another golf tournament really. If you put yourself in position, it's the same as putting yourself in position anywhere else. Back nine, Sunday, Augusta. I hope I'd enjoy it. If I don't enjoy it, I'm in the wrong profession. I'm in contention and I'm doing what I want to do."
The entire immediate McDowell family is here in August, parents Kenny and Miriam, brothers George and Gary, all intent on enjoying themselves whether or not Graeme has the kind of week that might well plunge him into the record books alongside Horton Smith, Gene Sarazen and Fuzzy Zoeller.
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