European golf goes to Augusta next week boasting the top four players in the world. In the first of our countdown series to the Masters with them, we feature Northern Ireland's Graeme McDowell....
As a proud Irishman, Graeme McDowell is well used to the colour green. Therefore, it will come as no surprise as to the next fashion item in that shade he has his heart set on.
The 31 year old from Portrush will head to the Masters Tournament at Augusta National next week as part of the proud European contingent at the top end of the Official World Golf Ranking, all of whom have a genuine shot at claiming the Green Jacket in the Butler Cabin come Sunday night.
“Obviously it would be a huge honour to be able to slip that jacket on my shoulders at any stage during my career,” said McDowell. “Augusta is a truly special place and the Masters is a phenomenal and unique golf tournament steeped in history.
“You only need to look at the list of players who have had the privilege to claim a Green Jacket over the years to get a sense for how prestigious a championship it is.
“I was lucky enough to experience the thrill of winning a Major last year at Pebble Beach and to experience winning the Masters at some point would be a really special feeling. All I can do is work hard and prepare myself as best I can, but everyone who knows me knows that to be in the mix on the back nine of a Sunday afternoon at Augusta is a challenge I would relish.”
Being in the situation above would bring immense pressure but the seven time European Tour champion showed last year he is more than equipped to handle the demands of big-time professional golf.
Firstly, he kept his head at Pebble Beach to become the first European golfer in 40 years to win the US Open Championship, before following that up with a truly nerveless display in the anchor match of The Ryder Cup singles at The Celtic Manor Resort, beating Hunter Mahan 3 and 1 to nudge Europe over the winning line.
As well as having the ‘bottle’ to handle such situations, McDowell admitted that preparing the groundwork thoroughly before any Major was vital – and nowhere more so than amongst the azaleas.
“Augusta requires every aspect of your game to be absolutely razor sharp. You need to drive it well, know where to land the ball on the greens, and even more importantly, know where not to hit it on the greens. Furthermore, your short game needs to be in good shape and you must putt extremely well.
“Good preparation is key and to this end I’ll be spending some time playing Augusta this week in an effort to map out exactly how I will play each hole. The Masters is a tournament that tests every aspect of your game and mental fortitude. But, as always, I am looking forward to the challenge.”
Tomorrow we turn the focus on World Number Three Luke Donald of England.....
