McDowell has goal in sight

European Open Countdown: If the process required more work and more time than the simple act of flicking a light switch, Graeme McDowell's metamorphosis from darkness to light has been remarkable, writes Philip Reid at The K Club

From a season in mid-March that suggested a rare old battle for any kind of respectability, at which time he had missed three cuts in five tournaments, his year has been transformed into one of tantalising promise.

In his last 11 events, McDowell has finished in the top 10 on five occasions, including winning the Italian Open. In fact, the 24-year-old is one of the most in-form players on tour - he's now 10th on the European Tour moneylist - and, as a consequence of his fine form, a place on the European Ryder Cup team for the match in Oakland Hills, Detroit, in September is not beyond the bounds of possibility.

"It's on the horizon now, okay," remarked McDowell of the possibility of making the Ryder Cup. "When I won in Italy, such a suggestion was all a bit scary . . . but now I know a couple of good weeks could get me into the team. To be honest, the Ryder Cup is not on my mind, it's not affecting me.

"I'll be keeping my head down, and just play as well as I can for the next couple of months. It's achievable, and if it happens, it happens. If it does, it will be much earlier in my career than I expected. I'd thought the 2006 match here would have been perfect."

The next few weeks will tell a tale. This week's Smurfit European Open at The K Club - which has a prize fund of €3.3 million - is the start of an intensive five-week stretch for McDowell that will also take in the Scottish Open, the British Open (his first appearance in a major), the Nissan Irish Open and the Scandinavian Masters, his first professional title achieved in his rookie year in 2002.

Few players will take as jaunty a step onto the first tee tomorrow as McDowell.

On Sunday, he set a new course record 64 in the French Open at the National in Paris - for which he got the bonus of a Rolex watch - which moved him to fourth place to follow on from the runners-up spot he occupied in his previous event, the Diageo Championship at Gleneagles.

Such results haven't arrived by accident. McDowell re-evaluated what direction he was headed at the end of last season and has a team behind him that includes manager Chubby Chandler, coach Claude Harmon, physical trainer Adam Griffin and sports psychologist Karl Morris.

Into that department also comes his caddie Matt Harbour, who is a graduate of psychology with a particular emphasise on neuro-linguistic programming.

A number of weeks ago, player and caddie adopted a new strategy for playing the opening two rounds of tournaments.

"It's a lot more conservative," explained McDowell. "It's about not taking on shots that we don't feel we have to take on so that we can position ourselves properly (going into the weekend).

"I'm not a weekly goal setter . . . but, apart from winning this week, I'd obviously like to finish in the top 10 and maintain my consistency levels.

"My season so far has been very satisfying. I haven't sat back and had a real look, and probably won't do that until the end of the year, but right now I know I've got a hell of a lot more work to do . . . but I feel as if I'm ready for it. I feel up for it."

The confidence garnered from back-to-back top-four finishes haven't just enabled him to bring momentum into this week's tournament, but are also the ideal build-up to the British Open at Royal Troon which McDowell is exempt for.

It will be his first appearance in a major and his form of recent weeks fully endorses the decision made to skip out on attempting to qualify for the US Open and instead focus his attention on playing tournaments in Europe.

Initially, McDowell was keen to compete in US Open qualifying at Lake Nona but, in the end, was persuaded by his manager to stay on in Europe.

"Ah, Chubby sees the bigger picture. I guess I was having a very narrow view because it was the US Open and I'd love to have experienced the course but staying in Europe was a huge move and I've just had the best two weeks of my professional career."

Indeed, McDowell has moved up the world rankings to 121st position and his upward graph could yet propel him into the field for the US PGA at Whistling Straits next month and, like any professional player, competing in the majors is the real evidence that all the hard work is paying off.

Down the line, though, his ultimate goal for the season is to finish in the top 15 on the Volvo Order of Merit, which would earn him places in all of next year's majors.

As for this week, the conditions - which include anticipated strong winds - would seem to suit his game. "I played great in Gleneagles and again in Paris, so the wind doesn't scare me at the minute. I've played this course a few times, including over the winter with John McHenry, and I think it is a great layout but it will be tough . . . it's a new course, and I think they're trying to make a bit of a statement."