The romance of ‘Amen Corner’ is contagious, it would seem. On Monday evening, as Graeme McDowell and Pádraig Harrington made their way from the 11th green to the 12th tee, the two stopped in their tracks as they spotted an age-old ritual: a spectator dropped to his knees, took out a ring and proposed to his girlfriend. Cue tears and hugs. The two golfers added some background noise of their own with applause to the couple.
If the scene was a fitting one to match the picture postcard backdrop, it also resonated with McDowell who is in particularly good place these days.
Newly engaged himself with a new restaurant and his own golf clothing line, McDowell's off-course dealings have something of a Midas touch.
Now, the Ulsterman – finally – feels that all the components are in place to launch a concerted bid for a Green Jacket to go with his US Open trophy.
“If I couldn’t be optimistic about my world at the minute, I’ll never be. I’m in a very happy place, got a great support network off the course. Family. My wife-to-be. A fun restaurant in Orlando.
“All the little things that keep a man happy and occupied away from the golf course.
“The expectation levels are nicely in check. The patient levels are good and I feel like everything is there. It’s no magic formula. It doesn’t necessarily chalk up 65 every day you go out and play . . . but hopefully the putts drop and perhaps you’ve got a chance come Sunday afternoon.”
Yesterday McDowell was back out on the course for a third straight day – this time in the company of Alan Dunbar, Steven Fox and Henrik Stenson – and savouring every bit of it.
“It doesn’t get old playing golf out here ever. It’s a beautiful place. It’s all fun and games until the gun goes off on Thursday and then you’ve got to keep your emotions under control at that point.”
McDowell has had to learn lessons the hard way about keeping such control. Last year, he signed for an opening 75 that brought about a change in attitude. “I came off the course very frustrated because I knew I had played very negatively all day. I’d been negative to my negative targets. I’d pitched very negatively. I’d putted negatively. And I made the decision I was going to be more positive, hail or shine.”
Upshot of change
The upshot of that change of mental attitude was a day-on-day improvement in his scores – finished off with a closing 68 that lifted him to tied-12th, his best finish in his fifth appearance in the Masters – and a belief that he now has a game capable of contending here.
Certainly, his early-season form, three top 10s in his last four outings, would indicate the game is in good shape.
Having finished runner-up to Webb Simpson in last year’s US Open and in the last pairing on the last day of the British Open where Ernie Els triumphed, McDowell has also shown an ability to peak for the Majors.
“The short game has been the focus for me over the winter and I’ve been reaping the benefits early in this season, seeing the positives of my shot game, my bunker play, and my putting getting a little better as well.
“The rest of my game is in nice shape. My iron play is solid. I’ve just got to wedge it and chip it and putt it this week. I feel like I’m coming here with more of a chance than ever before.
“I’m slowly but surely starting to learn and finding the tools to unlock this golf course. We’ll see.
“It’s another year trying to prepare the way I prepared for the Majors last year. That was quite successful for me. I wish it could have been better in places but, all-in-all, it was a great year and I’d love to have the same opportunities again this year.”
