GOLF: EUROPEAN TOUR:DEFENDING THE US Open in a fortnight is the big date coming up for Graeme McDowell, but first comes this week's Saab Wales Open – and he wants to win that again too.
McDowell’s name will always be associated with Celtic Manor for his Ryder Cup heroics last October.
But it was over the same course that the greatest year of the Northern Irishman’s life was kick-started four months earlier, and now he is back looking for the same boost in confidence he took away then.
Despite the presence of only three of his cup team-mates – Ross Fisher, Peter Hanson and Miguel Angel Jimenez – McDowell is not one to downgrade the importance of the next four days.
“There’s no doubt that some tournaments create their own intensity level on the first tee on a Thursday morning and perhaps others don’t,” he said.
“But that’s the art of scheduling. I want to be up for every tournament I play in.
“I don’t ever want to be at an event saying, ‘What am I doing here?’ – that’s a trap you never want to fall into. It’s happened in the past.
“Every tournament counts in the world rankings and it’s important you turn up every week wanting to play.
“Thankfully I have a great schedule, I haven’t experienced any of that kind of stuff and I’m certainly not going to experience that this week.
“I’m excited to be back and I’ll be right up for it.”
In practice McDowell could not resist going back to the exact same spot on the 16th green and trying again his 20-foot “shot of the year” against Hunter Mahan.
But he also has the memory of how he finished 12 months ago – rounds of 64 and 63 that he describes as “probably some of the best golf I’ve every played”.
It took him from six shots off the pace at halfway to a three-stroke win over Welshman Rhys Davies, with now-world number one Luke Donald two shots further back in third.
Donald is competing in America this week following his dramatic victory over Lee Westwood at Wentworth on Sunday, and McDowell’s cup partner, Rory McIlroy, has preferred Jack Nicklaus’ Memorial tournament as well.
Westwood, meanwhile, is on a week off before defending in Memphis next week, and that is where Pádraig Harrington will make his return from a knee injury.
Also not playing from Europe’s side are Ian Poulter, Martin Kaymer and the Molinari brothers, but captain Colin Montgomerie and assistants Darren Clarke and Thomas Bjorn are in the field.
So too is former British Open champion John Daly, who missed the cut in the PGA Championship before moving on to Wales for Monday evening’s PowerPlay event, where he tied with McDowell – in last place.
Montgomerie’s mind has gone back to last October, too, and, as meticulous as he was as captain, he has one regret.
Seve Ballesteros spoke to the team on the telephone in the build-up and Montgomerie said: “I just wish we had taped the words.
“Hindsight is a wonderful thing, but I wish someone had recorded what he said, because it was that passionate and everyone left that room thinking ‘Wow’ – even the guys that had played in the Ryder Cup before. It was certainly a very special 10 minutes or so for us all.”
The Lowdown
Course: Twenty Ten Course, Celtic Manor.
Length: 7,378 yards. Par: 71.
Prizemoney:€2 million, €340,000 for the winner
Field:156.
Defending champion:Graeme McDowell shot final round 63 to beat Rhys Davies – who shot a 62 – by three shots.
Layout:The venue for the 2010 Ryder Cup is a long track with four par fives – the first of which is 610 yards – with three of the five par threes over 210 yards. Lakes run through the course to add to the challenge, with water in play for 10 holes.
On TV: Sky Sports daily.
Weather: Relatively clear of rain throughout the four days but windy some of the days.
