McIlroy’s got the game to join the Major league this week, says maturing McDowell

CLOSE on 10 years separate Graeme McDowell and Rory McIlroy in age.

Yet, in almost every other way, they could hardly be more similar. Their ability as golfers needs no elucidation but it is quite remarkable how close they have become personally and how they share the same views on the game.

There is no way they have deliberately become a mutual admiration society, but those who don’t know them very well could be excused for thinking that was actually the case. Here’s what McDowell had to say yesterday about his young friend.