McDowell driven 'crazy' by St Andrews set-up

Graeme McDowell believes the changes made to toughen up St Andrews have made it even more “crazy” but remains confident he can reproduce the form which saw him shoot a course record 62 last year.

The 25-year-old Portrush golfer’s 10-under-par first round in the Dunhill Links last October helped him get into a play-off which he eventually lost to Scotland’s Stephen Gallacher after pitching into the burn in front of the first green.

He returns with the course in totally different condition and lengthened by 164 yards, with the 35 yards added to the 13th hole bringing particular criticism from McDowell.

“I can see why they want to make changes at holes like 12 (which has had an extra 34 yards put on) but 13 I don’t understand,” McDowell told the Press Association.

“It is a hard enough tee shot. It is not as if we are blowing it through the run-out area.

“And I don’t agree with four (which is now a 480-yard par four after gaining another 16 yards). I think the tee is too far back.

“If we get any wind at all, half the field are going to be in big trouble because they won’t make the fairway.

“You are going to be blowing it up the 15th, because that is the widest side of the fairway, and then coming in from 250 yards across another fairway.

“It is kind of crazy. That is the way you have got to play it. It is a crazy golf course in that there are times when you are not even looking at your own fairway, it’s not even in the picture.”

Even with that in mind, McDowell is confident he can reproduce the kind of form he showed last October.

“It is a golf course I enjoy to play. The set-up from the British Open is a little different from how we play it in the Dunhill Links but it is just a great place, and the weather is perfect,” said the 2001 Walker Cup winner, whose only other Open was last year at Troon where he missed the cut.

“It is running much more fiery (than the Dunhill Links) but in general the shape is still there.

“I have only ever seen two Dunhill pin positions over three years which haven’t changed much and haven’t been too difficult.

“I’m not up to speed as to where they can put the pins this week so that is going to be a key factor for me.”

McDowell also expressed his condolences to Padraig Harrington and his family after the Dubliner withdrew from the Open following the death of his father last night.

“It is such a good time of the season and a good time of his career and we all sympathise with his loss,” he added.