Graeme McDowell returns to action in America for the first time since his historic US Open Championship victory in June when he heads a strong European Tour contingent at this week’s WGC – Bridgestone Invitational.
The Northern Irishman has enjoyed a whirlwind six weeks since he became the first Briton to win the US Open in 40 years – one of several high profile European Tour successes on the other side of the Atlantic this year.
With Ian Poulter and Ernie Els having already captured the Accenture Match Play and CA Championship respectively in the first half of the season, McDowell will attempt to make it three wins out of three for European Tour Members – of which there are 45 in this week’s field - in World Golf Championship events in 2010.
After receiving an overwhelming welcome upon his return to Europe following his maiden Major Championship victory, the 31 year old is hoping for an equally rousing reception at Firestone Country Club in Akron, Ohio.
“It’s my first time back on American soil since Pebble Beach so it’s going to be exciting, no doubt about it,” said McDowell.
“Bridgestone is a golf tournament I like. I’ve never really played well there in the past but they have exceptional greens there and it’s a great week to go and work hard on your game and try to get a great result going into the US PGA Championship.
“I’ve had a great reception back in Ireland and the UK post-Pebble Beach. My schedule couldn’t have been more overwhelming if you think about it with Loch Lomond, The Open and the 3 Irish Open so it’s going to be interesting to see how I’m received in the US. I’ve always enjoyed playing golf out there and hopefully it will be good at Firestone.”
The defending champion is World Number One Tiger Woods, who has claimed the title on the last four occasions and seven times out of 11 editions of the event.
Woods finished four strokes clear of Australian Robert Allenby and Ireland’s Padraig Harrington last year – with three-time Major Champion Harrington pushing the Firestone course specialist all the way until a triple bogey on the 16th ended his chances.
Harrington will travel to Ohio buoyed by his performance in last week’s 3 Irish Open where he finished runner up to Englishman Ross Fisher after a dynamic closing round of 64.
The Irishman said: “Going into the next two weeks I'll just keep doing what I've been doing all year, keep working on it and just try to let it happen a bit more. I think at times I'm trying a little bit too hard and just not relaxing enough. When you do that, you tend to play better golf.
“It’s a tough course with probably the narrowest fairways of the year and a course on which you've got to pay attention to all the time. It has very, very fast greens.”
For 3 Irish Open winner Fisher, the WGC –Bridgestone Invitational will be another opportunity to try to seal a place in Colin Montgomerie’s Ryder Cup Team after his success at Killarney Golf and Fishing Club – his fourth European Tour title – moved him to fifth in the European points table.
“The 3 Irish Open was the first of three big weeks in a row for me so it couldn't have got off to a better start with winning and now I'm going to Bridgestone and looking forward to playing there,” he said. “I want to go out and prove that this wasn't a fluke and I want to try to contend the next two weeks if I can.”
Another player who will be hoping his hot-streak in America continues is Justin Rose, who has tasted success twice in his last three appearances in the United States.
“I like the golf course and the greens at Firestone. The greens are fast and firm and I’ve always putted well there. My stroke felt good last week and I’m looking to take that to Bridgestone. It is a golf course where you have to drive the ball well and I need to sharpen up in that department.
“My form in America gives me a lot of confidence going into this week but each week is a new challenge. Just because you’ve won recently doesn’t mean you are going to play well. What it does do is if you get into contention you have the confidence that you can go ahead and deal with the emotions involved and get the job done.”
Making their debuts in the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational are Australian Marcus Fraser and two players keen to make a big impression as The Ryder Cup countdown enters its final month before Montgomerie makes his Captain’s selections at Gleneagles.
Simon Khan, winner of the BMW PGA Championship and Rhys Davies, who followed success in Morocco with a runner-up finish in The Celtic Manor Wales Open, can both lay down markers for a place in the European Team by collecting a large cheque on Sunday.
