Overjoyed GUI hails exploits of ‘gentleman’ Graeme

THE Golfing Union of Ireland last night paid tribute to new US Open champion Graeme McDowell.

Following his Pebble Beach heroics, the Antrim man joins the exclusive club of major champions to have come through the GUI ranks.

Union general secretary Seamus Smith heaped compliments on McDowell, as a golfer and as a man.

Smith said: “He was one of the nicest young lads when he came on the scene in the late 90s. I found him a gentleman to deal with.

“He was always very mannerly, obliging and prepared to do anything to help you.

“He was very special and I took a very big liking to him in the way he carried himself as an individual and as a member of teams. I remember him winning the Irish Youths in Cork and the following year he won the World Universities, the Close, the North, the South and retained the Youths.

“That was a very big year for him individually and he was just as successful with the various teams. In the boys team in 1997, he won four matches and halved the other two; in the senior side at Carnoustie in 2000, he won five matches and halved the sixth.”

Smith is equally proud that McDowell and so many others who went through the GUI system haven’t forgotten their roots. He explained: “Graeme uses our academy at Carton House when he’s in Dublin. He’s very loyal to the union, seldom failing to mention what we’ve done for him in years gone by and doubtless he’ll be a great asset to us in years to come.”

It may be imagined the GUI would feel aggrieved having spent so much time, money and energy on developing these young players, they then head off for the professional game as soon as they reach the necessary standard.

Smith dismissed such thoughts. He reasoned: “We don’t lose them from the point of view every single one of them has been telling the world that they owe so much to the learning and training they got with the GUI.

“That’s very special to us. They never forget and you can’t get a nicer thank you than that. Pádraig (Harrington) has put it back into us by coming to work at the academy, Darren (Clarke) runs his annual foundation for our young champions, Paul (McGinley) has been over to help us and was our guest at the champion’s dinner. Peter Lawrie, Des Smyth... they’ve been there to help us and Graeme has said he’ll always be there to help.”