US Open Champion Graeme McDowell returns to The Celtic Manor Resort this week and the stage which helped drive him into golfing folklore as he defends the Saab Wales Open.
The Northern Irishman became an instant Ryder Cup legend on the Twenty Ten Course last October when, on that unforgettable Monday afternoon, he despatched Hunter Mahan in the final day singles to secure Europe’s winning point as they reclaimed The Ryder Cup trophy from the United States.
McDowell’s captain that week, Colin Montgomerie, will join him in the field for this week’s Saab Wales Open and those two men will be among the main attractions in a strong field which includes McDowell’s Ryder Cup team mates Ross Fisher, Peter Hanson and Miguel Angel Jiménez and Montgomerie’s vice-captains Thomas Björn and Darren Clarke.
It is hard to believe that this time last year McDowell arrived at The Celtic Manor Resort seeking to find some form over the summer months as he looked to force his way into an automatic spot in Montgomerie’s team.
The 31 year old was by no means a certainty to qualify until he arrived at the Twenty Ten Course and produced one of the most devastating performances of the 2010 season, carding final rounds of 64-63 to take the title from home hero Rhys Davies, who’s own remarkable final round 62 was still three strokes short of the rampaging McDowell’s final total.
With his game finely tuned and his confidence peaking, McDowell went to Pebble Beach and won the battle for the US Open Championship, holding off the challenge of Woods, Mickelson and Els among others to win his first Major.
By then, McDowell was indeed a certain qualifier for Team Europe, and the man who would go on to become the hero of the hour some three months later.
Given his Celtic Manor history, not many will bet against the Northern Irishman being in contention to defend his title this week, but he will have to reproduce more of the same to drive home with the Saab Wales Open trophy.
Davies’ final round performance last year will give him huge reserves of confidence to lead the home charge that should be ably supported by Jamie Donaldson and Bradley Dredge, both of whom have been in good form and who joined Davies on the fringes of contending in last week’s BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth Club.
Montgomerie has also being showing signs of a return to form having finished in a tie for seventh alongside Donaldson last week, while Björn and Clarke have both been in the winners’ enclosure in 2011 following their respective wins in Qatar and Mallorca.
