Irish have major chance: McDowell

Great though the last two weeks have been for Irish golf, Graeme McDowell reckons it could be just the start of something even better.

“We are due a major championship pretty soon and I think we have a chance to do something big in the future,” said the 25-year-old from Portrush on the eve of the sport’s richest event, the €6.5m Players Championship in Florida.

“It’s exciting to be part of that.”

Ten days ago Padraig Harrington captured his first US Tour title, then on Sunday McDowell gave arguably the best performance of his career so far, finishing joint second in the Bay Hill Invitational.

Until then McDowell was not even in this week’s tournament or the Masters at Augusta in two weeks, but now he gets to play in both and move into what he calls his “dream schedule”.

The cheque for nearly €360,000 also opens the door of the entire US Tour to him, but before walking through that door the former Walker Cup star has some serious thinking to do along with his manager Chubby Chandler.

Next year, of course, Ireland hosts the Ryder Cup for the first time.

“I have got to think long and hard about how much a priority it is going to be for me,” he commented. “It’s a dream to play a Ryder Cup and now I am faced with options. It’s a really good problem to have, to be fair, and I trust my manager enough to point me in the right direction.

“Things are going to change a bit maybe and ultimately I would like to be out here in the States at this time of year. I miss all of the travel back in Europe - I don’t have to do Australia and Asia. But it’s not something I am worried about right now. When the points kick in in September is when I will start thinking about what I am going to do.”

Only five of Ian Woosnam’s team will come off the world rankings, but majors and world championships also count towards the European Order of Merit from which the other five automatic spots are decided.

As McDowell, who came close to qualifying last year, said: “If I play good anywhere in the world I am going to make the team.”

While the “Big Four” of Tiger Woods, Vijay Singh, Ernie Els and Phil Mickelson have dominated the headlines so far this year, McDowell is thrilled to have added his name to the list of rising stars.

“It’s an exciting time in golf. There are young kids coming through who are strong, great hitters of the ball and guys who are fearless and can win at any given moment.”

Another of the young guns is the defending champion this week – Australian Adam Scott.

Twelve months ago the 24-year-old just managed to hold off a charging Harrington and forced the Dubliner to take second place for the second year running.

Scott, still a member of the European circuit, has won twice more on the US Tour since to move into the world’s top 10, but how much higher he can climb remains to be seen with the quartet at the top setting such a standard.

“I think golf is at a great point right now where we have got these guys competing at a level I don’t think we have seen before,” he said.

“I think we saw only Tiger play at this level a few years ago. Now everybody else is trying to get up there with him. The standard even in my five years as a professional has risen so much it’s hard to imagine. Everyone wants a piece of the action.

“It’s fantastic to watch, but it’s even better to be a part of it. That’s definitely what drives me.”

For the first time since the 2002 US PGA Championship all the world’s top 50 are at the same tournament this week.

Nineteen Europeans are taking part, but England’s Greg Owen, the first reserve, remains on stand-by even though American Scott Hoch pulled out with a wrist injury yesterday.

That is because the field is strictly 144-strong and with 147 originally qualifying there has to be three more withdrawals before Owen, 28th on the US Tour money list this season, gets in.

The world number one spot, which Woods regained two weeks ago only for Singh to get it back on Sunday with his second successive second place, is up for grabs again and also involves Els.

For the South African to go to number one he has to win and Singh and Woods have to be outside the top three. If he fails to do that Woods can reclaim top spot by finishing ahead of Singh.