McDowell upbeat in Akron

GOLF:THE CALL of the Majors is a unique one, and so Graeme McDowell – who flew out of Shannon yesterday – and Rory McIlroy, who makes the trip Stateside later today, got some of what they wanted from the Irish Open. Of course, a win was the main want, which wasn't to be for either of them, but the two Ulstermen at least left Killarney upbeat about their games and also, in McDowell's case, his mental attitude.

With this week’s €6 million WGC-Bridgestone Invitational in Akron providing a big week of its own ahead of next week’s US PGA Championship, McDowell – who had confessed to feeling like “a mental case” after missing the cut in the British Open last month – was much revived and more positive after assessing his all-round game on the back of the Irish Open.

“I made some really good steps forward on my short game and, really, the mental game as well. I was dejected after my Friday round at the Open because, you know, I had poured my heart and soul into my preparations and just didn’t quite do it on the golf course. I was putting a little too much pressure on myself.

“Generally, my mental game is my strength, not something I was going to hit the panic button about . . . but I needed to slip back into the way I was feeling last year when I was just cruising, working hard and then going out and letting it happen on the golf course,” said McDowell.

The return of Tiger Woods to tournament play after an absence that has stretched on for most of the summer will likely deflect much attention from other players, which is no bad thing for McIlroy – playing for the first time in the States since his US Open win – and Pádraig Harrington, who has split from his long-time coach Bob Torrance.

“Any time Tiger tees it up, there’s a bit of a buzz. Just good to see him back on the golf course and hopefully he’s fit and ready and healthy and able to produce some of the golf that we have seen in the past,” said McIlroy.

For McDowell, the Bridgestone represents an opportunity to fine-tune his game ahead of the US PGA, which offers a last chance of the year to add another Major to his US Open win of last year.

“Firestone is a great golf course to prepare, with great practice facilities. It’s not a golf course that sets up that well for me. You really have to move it off the tee and it’s a little on the long side for me in places . . . but I am driving it a lot better and a little longer these days, so we’ll see. It’s a great place to get ready for a big week at the US PGA afterwards.”

So, certainly in McDowell’s case, it would seem players – although the Bridgestone is just a step down from a Major – have one eye on the following week in Atlanta. And, of course, the Woods return hasn’t gone unnoticed for McDowell.

“It’s great to have Tiger back in the field. He always brings an added dimension when he is playing. It’s great to see him back and he’s great for golf. We will all be interested to see how he is doing.”

He added: “I normally grind pretty hard at Firestone. I like the practice facilities, they are really, really good. I normally hit a lot of balls and I will do that. I won’t have too many expectations to perform on the golf course. I’ll be working hard and I’ll not be letting the result get in the way, but getting ready for the PGA.”

Like McDowell, McIlroy will also see Firestone as an ideal tune-up for the PGA. Normally, he takes a week off ahead of the Majors. This is a unique situation, though, with the Bridgestone – a limited field event with no cut – traditionally serving as the curtain-raiser for the PGA. But, as McIlroy pointed out, it has served him well in each of the last two years as he has gone on to contend in the season’s final Major, finishing third on each occasion.

“I’m looking forward to getting back over there and playing some good golf. I had a top-10 in Akron last year; it is one of my favourite courses. I’ve done it the last two years, played Akron and played the PGA and finished third in the PGA the last couple of years. The PGA is always on a different course, so I feel comfortable the way they set that tournament up. It’s tough but it is fair. I’m looking forward to the next couple of weeks.”