GRAEME McDOWELL, golf’s newest major champion, returns to the European Tour at Loch Lomond today but admits it could be St Andrews next week before he is ready to contend again.
After two weeks of celebrating his stunning US Open victory at Pebble Beach – Ireland’s first, and Europe’s first since 1970 – McDowell said of the Scottish Open: “My expectations are not huge. This week it’s about getting the body back in shape and the business head screwed back on.
“No disrespect to this tournament – I’ve won around here – I just need to shake the rust out of the system. I’ve one eye on next week. I’m going to be practising very hard and I’m definitely keeping parties and celebrations to a bare minimum – there will none of that going on.
“I’ve made enough good swings the last few days to know that they are still in there, and certainly mentally I can be ready for next week, for sure. I’m definitely going there with expectations of competing and playing well.”
McDowell has already made a trip to the home of golf to see the set-up for the British Open starting next Thursday, and his excitement is fuelled by the fact he shot a course record-equalling 62 there in the 2004 Dunhill Links Championship.
Not surprisingly, he has hardly been able to take a step without being congratulated for what he achieved – as was the case at the JP McManus Pro-am this week.
“Players and caddies and friends and Tour officials and just people I’ve played with have come up to me. A lot of them are sort of disbelieving,” he said.
“They are the way I feel, really, saying ‘unbelievable’. I’m sure I’ve surprised some people, but I hope that I haven’t surprised everyone.
“I hope that people know enough about my game to know that hopefully the win at Pebble wasn’t a fluke.”
Phil Mickelson is also in this week’s field and the left-hander will finally take the world number one spot off Tiger Woods if he finishes first or second.
Joining McDowell are Paul McGinley, Gareth Maybin, Michael Hoey, Peter Lawrie, Damien McGrane, Darren Clarke and Shane Lowry.
SCOTTISH OPEN
Course:Loch Lomond (30km northeast of Glasgow)
Length:7,139 yards, (6,528m). Par: 71.
Prizemoney:€3.5 million (€602,000 for the winner)
Layout:Tom Weiskopf design, generous fairways, with plenty of birdies with good approach play.
Field:Strong.
Defending champion:Martin Kaymer.
On TV:Sky Sports 3 today and tomorrow, 10.30-13.30, 15.30-18.30, then on BBC on Saturday (13.00), and Sunday (13.30).
Weather forecast:Wet and cool every day, maximum 18 degrees.
