British Open: Philip Reid on the Ulsterman's dismal week on the greens, where he averaged over 33 putts per round

The putter is the most used and most important club in a player's bag. It's not good if it misbehaves, as Graeme McDowell discovered in a disappointing conclusion to the British Open yesterday.

"It's the kind of bizarre thing that this game gives to you. When you're playing badly, you seem to be holing everything. When you're playing well tee to green, you hole nothing. It's a funny old game, really," said the Ulsterman, who slipped down the field as fast as a parachutist in freefall.

McDowell's woes with the putter were emphasised by three three-putts in his first 15 holes on the way to a 79 for 290, two-over (in tied-61st). Of the 71 players who made it into the weekend, only American Chad Campbell fared worse on the greens than McDowell, who averaged 33.3 putts over the four rounds.

"As good as my game has been this week, my putter has been bad. And when you're not putting well, you've no chance.

"But I can take positives away from here. My driving's back on track. My iron play is very strong. I played as well tee to green as I've done all year.

"I can look back and say I led the British Open (after the first round), and that is something you can draw on in becoming a better player," he said.

So, for a second straight major, following last month's US Open at Winged Foot, McDowell had to endure the disappointment of a final round of 79.

"My putter was cold and it spiralled out of control from there. These greens just didn't fit my eye. I didn't read them good," said McDowell.

He at least has the consolation of knowing his place in next month's US PGA at Medinah is secured.

Despite slipping out of the world's top-100 last week, McDowell had received his invitation from the PGA of America a number of weeks ago.

It was a tough old day for McDowell, who dropped a shot on the first when he found a greenside bunker, and then added a further six bogeys and a double bogey at the 14th before, finally getting birdies at the 17th and 18th holes.

"It's tough, you've got to try to challenge yourself out there and learn from it. It is very difficult out there in front of 50,000 people and you're trying your best to shoot 80, especially when you can't hole a putt. It becomes a mental battle when you're putting that bad."

McDowell heads to Hamburg for this week's Deutsche Bank TPC of Europe, but is uncertain what his schedule will be up to the PGA in Chicago. He could yet include the International tournament in Denver on his itinerary.

All he knows is that it is not all doom and gloom.

"I'm very, very close to putting it all together," he claimed.