John O'Sullivan talks to Graeme McDowell who was happy with his opening round as he faces an uphill battle to make the Ryder Cup team
Graeme McDowell is reluctant to indulge in conjecture, preferring instead to focus on what is within his compass. Aspirations are fine and dandy but it is the hard currency of achievement that will determine whether he makes the European team for September's Ryder Cup clash with the USA over the Palmer course at the K Club.
The window of opportunity is fast closing, the final counting tournament, the BMW International in Munich, little more than seven weeks away. He isn't on the periphery of the team, more like a speck on the horizon, languishing €750,000 behind 10th place on the European Ryder Cup points table. It's not an insurmountable task but he knows that he'll have to win a high calibre tournament.
Taken against this backdrop his opening three-under-par 69 is encouraging but no more than that. His mindset is anchored by a pragmatic appraisal of his current situation. "I'm just thinking tournaments for me. I am so far off the radar (in Ryder Cup terms) that I know I need a big week. I'm just trying to get my game in position to give myself a good week. If it happens then great."
In recent weeks he demonstrated his mettle in coming through the qualification for the US and British Opens, finishing tied 48th, handicapped by a poor weekend at Winged Foot. Undaunted he negotiated the Sunningdale qualifier, holing a birdie putt in a play-off, to guarantee a place in the British Open field at Hoylake next month: four-round consistency is ostensibly the missing ingredient.
"It's a major boost. It takes my mind off qualifying for the next three or four weeks. Ryder Cup is enough of a distraction and you need as few of those as possible. It's about winning golf tournaments and playing well. You don't need things distracting you like trying to qualify for majors."
The catalyst for yesterday's round, played in relatively benign conditions, was accuracy off the tee and an ability to scramble successfully when required. "(I have) a bit more confidence in my driver. I'm starting to see it do what I want it to do in the last couple of weeks. My iron play is solid and I'm just trying to get in position for the weekend.
"It's playing pretty firm and fast. The greens are very nice, a little on the slow side but they're so undulating we wouldn't want to see them too quick."
The one blemish on a round that included four birdies came at the ninth, his 18th hole. "That little pitch on nine; it's amazing how firm the ground is underneath. I really couldn't get the club into the back of the ball. I had 205 yards (for my second) and hit six iron. I thought that the wind was helping a little more than it was. I didn't think I needed a big one. I was on the fringe, sitting perfectly, but it was like concrete below me. I had to get the ball up and really didn't pinch it the way I wanted to. I scrambled well when I got myself out of position a few times. In general I played solidly and had a few big par saves early on which is good for momentum."
McDowell was enervated by the huge crowds that thronged the fairways. "They were really good, especially for a Thursday morning. I'm sure everyone is excited about September and about the players being here this week."
Guaranteed the support, he must now maintain that momentum through the next 54 holes. He was joined on the three under mark by Darren Clarke and Damien McGrane. The latter has two top 10 finishes to his credit this season at the UBS Hong Kong Open (7th) and the Madeira Island Open (10th).
"I played nicely from start to finish and holed a few important putts that held my score together. When I needed a putt I got it and that's what you need to keep the score intact. I have played reasonably well here a few times (so it's about) building on it to go forward."
