McDowell Returns to Majors After Six-Year Absence
Graeme McDowell has not competed in a major championship for six years. From 2008 to 2016, he made 34 consecutive appearances at golf's most prestigious events, including a standout victory at the 2010 US Open held at Pebble Beach.
As a former world number four and a four-time Ryder Cup participant, McDowell was regularly in contention at the highest level. However, this week’s US Open at Shinnecock Hills marks the 46-year-old’s first major appearance since 2018.
While McDowell is naturally excited to return to the championship where he achieved his greatest success, he emphasizes that this event holds special significance for his nine-year-old son, Wills.
"I wasn't sure I was ever going to get to show him me out here playing in it with the sands of time continuing to deplete," admitted Northern Ireland's McDowell.
"There's a large appreciation for me being here this week at a major. At a point of my career, these were automatic and when they get taken away from you, you realise how much you miss them and appreciate the opportunity to be on golf's biggest stages."
Challenges Await at Shinnecock Hills
McDowell’s renewed appreciation for competing in majors will be put to the test at Shinnecock Hills, widely regarded as one of the most demanding courses on the US Open rotation, known for its unforgiving nature.
He previously missed the cut at Shinnecock in 2018, alongside fellow Northern Irishman Rory McIlroy. With strong winds forecast for this week, McDowell anticipates another rigorous challenge as he aims to make the cut in a major for the first time since the 2019 Open Championship at Royal Portrush, his hometown course.
"You must drive it well. The fairways are generous but if you miss them, you're in trouble," explained LIV Golf's McDowell, who earned his place at Shinnecock by advancing through a 36-hole qualifier in Dallas last month.
"The greens, you have to be very disciplined with some and some will give you chances, so you have to know where to miss and when you do miss, you have to be creative.
"The bunkers are interesting with a lot of stones and shells in them, but there is a little bit of everything in this golf course that will test the patience and every department of the skill-set."
Course Conditions and Strategy
McDowell's last tournament victory was at the 2020 Saudi International, and his best finish on the LIV Golf tour was a tie for second place in Virginia last year.
Although he acknowledges that many factors must align for him to contend at Shinnecock, he believes the course suits his style of play.
"I'm going to have to weather some storms at some point and whomever wins is going to have to go through a period where they have to hang in, take their medicine and get out of there with a bogey and just run," he said.
"Right now it's quite fair, not as fast as it was in 2018, but I think by design they are keeping it a little bit slower.
"Thursday's weather forecast is very windy and they are worried about that, but right now it's slower and we'll see how that progresses over the weekend."
McDowell will begin his US Open campaign at 12:19 BST on Thursday.
McDowell's father Ken (right) was at Pebble Beach in 2010 to watch his son become a major champion on Father's Day
- McIlroy among early starters in US Open round one
- McIlroy calls for US Open set-up 'caution'
- Will fearsome Shinnecock bring MacIntyre major redemption?
- Why Shinnecock may not offer the US Open test it has in the past
