After a bleak patch early in the season, things are looking up, writes Philip Reid
Even in the dark days earlier in the season, when it seemed Graeme McDowell couldn't make a cut for love or money, there was never any despair. An advocate of the power of positive thinking, a believer in the concept of neuro-linguistic programming, the Ulsterman always figured there was a way out of his slump. He was right.
Yesterday, a tough old day at the office with a stiff wind swirling through this tree-lined course to make players think twice over every shot, and ensure that their concentration never lapsed, McDowell confirmed he is doing more things right than wrong. A second round 70 for 141, three-under, on the fringes of contention but within striking distance, left him sensing that good things lie ahead.
"I've seen light at the end of the tunnel for two months now and it's just a matter of stringing it all together," he said. "My driver's holding me back a little bit and my putter's holding me back a little bit, it's just those two clubs. But getting into contention and getting myself into a position to win is the thing that I want to do, and I'm slowly, slowly doing that.
"It's good to be back, playing great golf again," he added.
A significant part in McDowell's revival of sorts has been a decision to start working again with Claude Harmon, son of Tiger Woods' former coach Butch.
McDowell turned to Harmon for guidance in the midst of that horrible run that he had on the US Tour, where he missed six successive cuts in strokeplay tournaments, and the consequence has been an upturn in fortunes highlighted by a tied-eighth finish in the British Masters a fortnight ago.
"I hadn't seen Claude for four weeks before getting here, so I was excited to come see him. Obviously missing the cut at the Irish Open last week was disappointing but, at the same time, I'd played six weeks on the spin, this is my seventh, and a weekend at home wasn't the worse thing in the world.
"I'd have loved to contend at the Irish Open, but the two days off were welcome as well. I was excited to come here, work with Claude and really get the swing back on track. I've been working on the right things and he's made a big difference to my game."
There was some degree of satisfaction about yesterday's round, which included four birdies and two dropped shots. The birdies came at the fourth, where he hit a wedge to 15 feet below the hole; the eighth, an eight-iron to 15 feet; the 12th, where he splashed out of a greenside trap to six feet; and the 17th, where he sank a four-footer.
If there is a concern, it is with his driving.
"You've got to drive the golf ball very well and I'm not particularly happy with how I'm driving the ball. There's room for improvement. To be honest, I haven't driven the ball well for the last two years, certainly not as well as I know I can hit the golf ball, but I've seen sparks of it this year and I'll keep plugging away.
"I feel my game plan is good (for the weekend). I'm doing the right things. If I can just drive it a bit more solidly, because my iron play is strong and my chipping strong, I feel I'll be there or thereabouts."
