US OPEN:FOR A man known to one and all, including his father, as G-Mac, you'd probably expect Graeme McDowell to move at the speed of sound. Not a bit of it.
Yesterday, on the sort of cool day which could have been transported across from his home near the Giant’s Causeway, the Ulsterman moved with stealth as he assumed the midway lead in the 110th US Open here at Pebble Beach Golf Links hard by the shore of the Pacific Ocean on the Monterey peninsula.
In shooting a second round 68 for 139, McDowell – winner of the Wales Open just a fortnight ago – was cool, calm and collected.
Now, the 30-year-old from Portrush in Co Antrim wants to stay that way heading into the biggest weekend of his life as he attempts to follow in the footsteps of Jack Nicklaus, Tom Watson, Tom Kite and Tiger Woods who have won the four previous US Opens staged on this famed course.
Contending is an end to a means, winning is what it is all about. And McDowell – while professing not to be a golf historian – knows what it would mean to become the US Open champion, although he only had to look over his shoulder to see the calibre of pursuer. Ernie Els. Dustin Johnson. Paul Casey. And the Bashful Prince himself, Ryo Ishikawa.
McDowell, who was up at 4.30am for his tee-time – “A bit of a rude awakening,” he confessed – had six birdies and three bogeys in his round to reach the midpoint two shots clear of Els, Johnson and Ishikawa.
Had he allowed himself to dream of winning?
“You know, I’d be lying if I hadn’t thought of picking up the trophy on Sunday afternoon. I think that’s only natural. But I’m trying to be very realistic as well. I’m really trying to put no expectations on myself this weekend because, A, I know there’s a lot of great players out here, and B, this golf course is extremely difficult.
“But I’m probably as ready going into the weekend of a major as I’ve ever been.
“Is this weekend my weekend? I have no idea. But I’ll certainly be giving it my best shot, giving it 100 per cent. If I get a sniff Sunday afternoon, I’ll be ready for it.
“Winning major championships is what I’ve dreamt of all my life and what I’ve practised for. That doesn’t mean my name is on the trophy. There’s a hell of a lot of work to do. This course is ready to bite you any second.
“I’m going to be relaxed and disciplined and try to keep control of my emotions and see where that leaves me,” said McDowell.
For Rory McIlroy, his second appearance in the US Open proved to have a disappointingly premature ending after he shot a 77 for 152 to miss the cut.
Gareth Maybin, though, eagled the 18th for a 75 to be on 149, sufficient to survive the cut under the 10-shot rule thanks, ironically, to McDowell’s closing three-putt bogey.
“I owe him a pint,” quipped Maybin.
US OPEN
Early completed scores
139 (- 3)
Graeme McDowell(NIre)71 68
141 (- 1)
Ernie Els (SA)73 68
Dustin Johnson (US)71 70
Ryo Ishikawa (Jap)70 71
142 (level)
Alex Cejka (Ger) 70 72
Paul Casey (Eng) 69 73
Brendon de Jonge (Zim) 69 73
Jerry Kelly72 70
