A Father’s Day to remember for proud McDowell senior

KENNY McDOWELL was still floating on air five hours after his son tapped in from 12 inches to give him the best Father’s Day present a man could wish for.

Dashing out to the 18th green, he hugged the newest major winner, saying: “You’re some kid.”

It was a special family moment for a man who had worked long hours servicing computers at a school in Coleraine to give his family all they needed to be happy.

His wife Marian, who is suffering from MS, watched on TV from Spain. But this was a day for dads all around the world and McDowell did not let the old man down.

Describing their exchange on the 18th green, just a few feet from legendary Stillwater Cove, Kenny explained: “Graeme said to me, ‘Happy father’s day Dad’ and I said, ‘How are you going to top this victory boy?’ ” It was unbelievable. It really was.

“On Sunday morning we had a cup of coffee and had a chat about school days and golf days early on. Dustin was leading the tournament by three shots and it was his to win.

“But Graeme has a major mindset obviously and those six inches of grey matter between the ears must have kicked in. If I’d been Graeme, I’d have been back in the bar.

“When Gregory Havret bogeyed the 17th and missed that birdie putt at the 18th, Graeme had a lay up and had two putts to win.

“I am in dreamworld here. I am just delighted.”

It’s been a long road for Kenny McDowell who once drove all night from Portrush to Fota Island, sleeping in his car, to make sure he saw the first shot of the new US Open champion’s European Tour debut in the 2002 Irish Open.

He knew his son had a special talent but had he ever dared to dream of a major winning afternoon? “Never,” he said with a smile as wide as Ireland.