McDowell: Focus now switches to US Open

GRAEME McDOWELL’S early exit from the Masters on Friday has not dented his optimism for the defence of his US Open title at Congressional Country Club in two months.

McDowell, who stuck around on Saturday to watch Rory McIlroy’s third round, failed to figure out the Augusta National greens over two rounds and missed the cut for the second year in a row after rounds of 74 and 73 left him three over par, two shots off what was needed to play the weekend.

The 31-year-old came 99th and last in the field for both total putts and the number of three putts, averaging 1.94 per hole for his 70 putts over 36 holes.