Graeme McDowell foresees a golden age and a US resurgence

Who would have succeeded in a golfing rivalry between Jack Nicklaus and Tiger Woods is a debate that has stirred at a thousand clubhouse bars more than 15 years, but Graeme McDowell believes the game’s next giants will turn the hypothetical into reality.

Comparing Rory McIlroy’s power game to 14-time major winner Woods and newly-crowned Masters king Jordan Spieth to 18-time champion Nicklaus, McDowell foresees a golden age for his sport and in particular a resurgence for the US. McDowell, who will this weekend attempt to regain the PGA Tour’s RBC Heritage title he won at Hilton Head two years ago, was speaking as he completed 72 holes at Augusta National for only the third time in eight attempts.

Finishing well down the field, the Irishman was nevertheless pleased with how is game, described by him as a work in progress, was coming along after a difficult start to the season. Yet the former US Open champion was just as enthused by the potential future of a game set to be spearheaded by a McIlroy-Spieth rivalry.