McDowell’s open door to future

A YEAR on from his Pebble Beach victory, Graeme McDowell is ready to start looking forward again — with this week’s US Open title defence marking the start of the rest of his career.

Speaking at his final media conference before he tees off tomorrow at Congressional Country Club, the 31-year-old from Portrush, who spent most of December collecting awards for his heroics of 2010, declared that the time for reminiscing was over.

McDowell, as befits his status, will tee off in a marquee group at Congressional alongside Open champion Louis Oosthuizen and US Amateur champion Peter Uihlein but feels the pressure is off him in a tournament being viewed as wide open.

“You know, it’s bizarre because if anything I feel like the glare is off me this week,” McDowell said.

“I feel like I’ve done it. The last three or four months has been difficult. I’ve spent the last just under 12 months looking back at Pebble. I spent the last six months reflecting on 2010. And I mean, somehow having arrived here this week, I feel like I’ve done it now.

“I’m back. Yeah, my US Open trophy is back here with the USGA. I’ve handed it back and I’m ready to get on with the rest of my career now. Defending titles is a strange psyche because, I mean, I’ve got nothing to defend this week.

“I’m level par Thursday morning the same as everyone else. I’m just one of the guys trying to win it back.

“I’m here at a US Open for the first time believing in myself that I can win on a US Open set up because I did it last year.

“I have a strange feeling this week. I feel like I did all my talk, this is my last bit of talking before I tee off on Thursday. I’m happy that it’s all done because I want to look forward to the rest of my career and what I want to achieve for the rest of my career.

“It’s tough to look forward when all everyone wants to talk about is the past. I’m excited ... I felt different yesterday on the golf course. I felt like a weight had been lifted off my shoulders already, and I’m excited about the week.

“I’m excited. I feel less pressure already this week. I’m hoping it continues to Thursday. I feel like I’m in a good frame of mind this week.”

McDowell admitted that while he felt his game was in good shape, his two recent horror rounds, on the last day of The Players when he shot a 79 and his third-round 81 at the Wales Open, were indicative of an unwelcome switch in mindset.

“I think pretty much the only thing I’ve come up with is that my focus has been way too much on winning. My expectation level, I mean, I’m going out there with the only goal of winning the golf tournament.

“That’s probably a little bit unrealistic because you can’t be setting your goals that high. So the last round of The Players when it started to get away from me, it wasn’t like I threw the towel in but subconsciously I felt the win getting away from me and I lost that drive.

“I’ve lost that drive to grind the top 10s and the top fives out — the things that drive consistency. The reason why Luke Donald has not been a prolific winner but he’s just a phenomenal golfer and he’s one of the best players in the world is because he can grind out those top fives and top 10s when he’s maybe not in a position to win the golf tournament.

Recognising one’s flaws is the first step to redemption though, and McDowell insisted he was on the way back heading into his US Open title defence.

“I’ve got to reset my goals and realise that consistent golf is what it’s all about, and you don’t have to win every week to be a top player. I’ve just got to look at my focus and make sure that I’m being driven in the right places, and you can’t expect to win every week, and the second that the win gets away from you, you can’t just go throwing it around everywhere. Just need to get that little bit of focus back.”

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