McDowell: Damage to Ryder Cup driver has been a ‘blessing in disguise’

Graeme McDowell has put sentiment aside, declaring irreparable damage to his Ryder Cup winning driver has been a “blessing in disguise”.

McDowell returned to his Orlando residence yesterday with two drivers in his bag — The Celtic Manor, Valderrama and Chevron Challenge winning driver from 2010 that will be retired to his trophy cabinet — and a new gold Cleveland driver he believes could lead to Augusta National success.

McDowell said: “I’m very positive using the new driver and the Callaway breaking has been a blessing in disguise. I’m driving the ball better and I was driving it well in Abu Dhabi and Qatar. It’s flying better and very much under control and I have been ecstatic with the Cleveland.

“I’m probably getting about another five yards or so and hopefully by the Match-Play I can get about an additional 10 yards overall. The Callaway driver will be added to the archives as it’s the driver I won with in Valderrama and it was a part of my Ryder Cup win plus I used it to win the Chevron. I am a semi-sentimental guy when it comes to equipment so I will be framing up the set of clubs I won the US Open with along with the driver, hybrids and irons. But I’m keeping the putter in the bag.”

McDowell’s next event is next fortnight’s WGC–Accenture Match-Play Championship in Arizona and the first big showdown of the new season ahead of the April 5th commencing Masters at Augusta. While he looks forward to advancing to the last eight for the first time in six appearances, McDowell is also relishing a return to Georgia where he’s missed the halfway cut in three of four appearances. “I’m thinking about Augusta and now I have this driver where I want, I’m moving it right to left a bit better than I had been with my older drivers. I’m also going to get Cleveland to work on something that will help me shape it a little bit more.”

While excited about his Augusta prospects, McDowell has ruled out an early pre-Masters practice round and instead contests the Shell Houston Open the week prior.

“I’m not going anywhere near Augusta before the Masters as I have tried that the last few years and it has worked very well,” he said.

McDowell ended his two tournament appearance in this year’s ‘Desert Swing’ sharing third place with Tiger Woods in Abu Dhabi but well down in a tie for 59th in Qatar.

“I never got started in Doha but all in all I’m very with the game I am taking away from the two weeks in the Middle East. I am looking for to a couple of weeks off relaxing and working in the gym and remaining fired up and working on my game. I’m also getting ready for a very big run of golf where I am going to play six out of seven weeks, and then after the Masters I have a fortnight off and then I go crazy through to The Open.”