BRITISH OPEN COUNTDOWN:The Turnberry track ticks so many boxes for the Ulsterman this weekend, reports PHILIP REID

NO LAST minute cramming for the examination ahead, no jittery nerves. Yesterday morning, Graeme McDowell played a practice round with Rory McIlroy - as has become the recent norm for the two northerners in the week of a major - only, this time, he didn’t hang around for any post-mortems or listen to talk in the locker-room of how heavy the rough is or to those forecasting poor weather.

Being his own man who does his own thing, McDowell, confident he knows the Ailsa links sufficiently well, headed for his car to take the ferry home for a short break in Portrush - “I’ll see mam and dad, watch my brother (Gary) play in the North of Ireland” - with the plan being to return here tomorrow by helicopter for what will be his 16th appearance in a major.

So far, McDowell has yet to crack a top-10 finish in any major. Yet, the vibes are positive. Indeed, in his last four majors, the Ulsterman has secured top-20 finishes - tied-19th (British Open), tied-15th (US PGA), tied-17th (US Masters), tied-18th (US Open) - and, with the wheel having turned a full circle since that run of competing and contending in the majors started a year ago, there is a greater level of expectancy about the challenge that lies ahead on this occasion.

“My ambition is to compete and challenge this week. I like the way the course sets up. The weather is going to be a huge factor, because this course is very playable in a 10-mile-an-hour wind, but in a 20-mile-per-hour wind it becomes very difficult. I’ll be doing my best . . . I know how to get around this place.”

Turnberry ticks so many boxes for McDowell, who looks on course management and crafting a way around a links as a challenge to be embraced. “There’s a premium on accuracy off the tee because of the well positioned bunkers and the heavy rough, but if you drive the ball well you have some medium to short irons in your hand to pretty easy greens. You can make a few birdies,” he said.

“You know, there are a lot of similarities between here and Portrush where you also have to position the ball well off the tee. I need to stay patient. Links golf is something I enjoy. I flight the ball well enough, my short game is good enough and I just have to go there and enjoy myself. I think my game suits this course down to the ground.

“The course is well set up, the rough is well placed and there is lots of it, but there are sides of the fairways you can miss it on and get away with it and sides you can’t so you just have to think your way around.”

For sure, McDowell has an edge on a majority of the field in that links golf has been his staple since he first held a club in his hand, the two courses at Portrush - the Valley and the Dunluce - being a home from home after school finished and during holidays.

“Links golf is in my blood and I feel like I slip back into it more naturally than some of the guys,” he admitted.

Now, having taken a route that included completing college studies in Alabama, playing Walker Cup as an amateur, and in the World Cup and Ryder Cup as a professional, to a stage in his career where the 29-year-old builds his season around the majors, McDowell is aiming to contend in a major. Not just to flirt with the title over the first couple of rounds, but to hang around until the serious questions are asked over the weekend.

“I can feel optimistic about this week, there’s enough good going on in my game to keep me positive . . . my short game is feeling sharp, and I feel like I’ve turned the corner in my game.”

A year ago, McDowell arrived in Birkdale as the winner of the Scottish Open and, although he eventually finished tied-19th behind Pádraig Harrington, an element of fatigue crept into his game over the weekend.

“I wouldn’t change 12 months ago for a second. But I look at my performance at Birkdale at the weekend, if only I had more in the tank.

“If I hadn’t have won the weekend before . . . but it’s one of those things, and I come into this week feeling fresh. I’ve been struggling with my game a little bit but I feel like I’ve turned a corner and I’m starting to hit the ball better and better and I’m really looking forward to the week.”

This time, he is aiming to be fresh and up to whatever challenge comes his way; and returning home for the short break is part and parcel of that master plan. He’ll finalise his preparations with a full practice round tomorrow on his return.

“I’ll be ready to go (come Thursday),” claimed McDowell.