McDowell is showing poise of a champion

THE many American commentators who wondered aloud about Graeme McDowell’s worthiness to be crowned US Open champion after his great victory at Pebble Beach last June have been forced to eat another dose of humble pie after the latest heroics by the Portrush man in the Hyundai Tournament of Champions in Hawaii on Sunday.

The knockers must have known they were on thin ice when McDowell continued on from Pebble Beach — sinking the winning putt under fierce pressure in the Ryder Cup, winning for the third time in 2010 in the Andalucia Open and seeing off Tiger Woods in memorable fashion in his own Chevron World Challenge to finish his “dream year” on the highest possible note.

Instead of taking a lengthy break through Christmas and the new year, McDowell was quickly backin the thick of it, his enthusiasm to see Hawaii for the first time luring him to the Tournament of Champions on the first week of the new year.