Graeme McDowell’s favourite courses

Factfile

Born

1979 - Portrush

Turned Pro

2002

Career Victories

Ryder Cup

Two appearances

He may have just failed to claim the number-one spot in European golf but 2010 was an outstanding year for Graeme McDowell.

The 31-year-old from Portrush, in Northern Ireland, won the US Open – the first European to do so for 40 years – and holed the winning putt in the Ryder Cup. He was pipped only by Martin Kaymer for the Race to Dubai title and burst into the world’s top 10 by upstaging the former world number one, Tiger Woods, at his own event.

But while he may now spend most of his time across the pond, he certainly doesn’t forget his roots – his very favourite course is the one closest to where he grew up.

He said: “It has to be Royal Portrush. I’m slightly biased of course because it’s my home course. But it is one of the greatest links layouts in golf. I get a special buzz every time I walk onto the first tee. It’s home. There’s nothing quite like a knock around Portrush with a pint afterwards with my dad and my brothers.
“It’s a classic Harry Colt design with a real premium on accuracy off the tee and stunning scenery out by the fifth green. It’s quite short by modern standards but they’ve revamped it and got it up to 7,100 yards now with new tee boxes. There are some terrific finishing holes – the 14th is a stunning par-three that is 210 yards from the back tees. It’s called Calamity Corner – and with good reason because you have to carry a ravine to find the green which hangs on a precipice.”

Another Irish links course close to his heart is the Championship course at Royal County Down, stretching along the shores of Dundrum Bay.

McDowell said: “It takes a wee while to get to know it the first few times you play. There are quite a few blind tee shots. But once you have found your way around, it’s just a phenomenal links track in great condition. It’s one of the few courses I’ve played where it’s so good, you could erect the grandstands and hold an Open Championship right then. That’s how good it is all year round. It’s a real, rolling links with small undulating greens and fabulous scenery.”

During his student days in the USA he won the Haskins Award as the most outstanding collegiate golfer in 2002, so he can be forgiven for choosing a Stateside course as his third favourite.

“I saw Pebble Beach for the first time in 2001 when I was at college in Birmingham, Alabama,” said GMac, as he is fondly known. “We were playing a tournament nearby and came to have a look around. Wow. I was in awe. It’s just one of those magical places. You have to pinch yourself. There are very few places that give you goose bumps. The first tee at St Andrews does that to you. And the 18th at Pebble Beach has the same feeling. Augusta has it too and maybe Pine Valley. You just know you are in the presence of greatness. Pebble is one of the most dramatic golf courses on the planet. And I am of course a little biased now having won the US Open there,” he smiled.

Graeme McDowell was talking to Going for Golf’s Paul Mahoney.