Last year’s Scottish Open was conducted in a post-party haze for Graeme McDowell, and he’s wondering whether his great friend Rory McIlroy might have the same affliction having followed him as US Open champion.
“Has he celebrated to excess? I hope so,” said G-Mac at Castle Stuart on Wednesday.
“I didn’t get the chance to go but I saw him for dinner last week and I think he was partied out.”
He added, “A lot’s been made about him taking all three weeks off (between the US Open and the Open) and to be honest in hindsight I maybe shouldn’t have played here last year.
“It’s certainly nice to be a bit fresher in mind and be excited about the next two weeks.”
McDowell has offered no advice to McIlroy about dealing with the hoopla after Congressional, because it was such an individual experience.
He said, “It’s the attention, inside and outside the ropes, people wanting to shake your hand and pat you on the back, that I found very hard to deal with.
“It’s great, of course, but it’s overwhelming.”G-Mac ‘driven’Personally, McDowell is now invigorated about the rest of his golfing life.
He said, “I’m as driven and motivated now as I’ve ever been.
“The only negative thing about the US Open was it dragged me back, stopping me looking forward and I was never going to move on until someone else had the title.”
He added, “I’m looking forward to getting that links vibe again, and this is a very beautiful golf course.
“My game’s simmering nicely, and I feel I’m on the verge of playing really well again.”
Rorymania serves to help others, notably world top two Luke Donald and Lee Westwood, as they build for the Open where they might be under more intense scrutiny but for the blaze of interest in the young Northern Irishman.
Donald is one who has returned to the Scottish Open after some years absent with the move to the links, and his practice regime is intense, one drill involving him pitching at various lengths until he gets five balls within five feet.
“There are some who don’t need to practise and rely on natural ability, I have to go out there and work at it,” said the top-ranked player, who has fond memories of the Moray coast and his unbeaten record at the 1999 Walker Cup.
“There are a lot of pros to being here, another week on links in tournament conditions, so it should be good preparation.”’Prestigious title’Westwood, a former champion of this event like McDowell, was at Sandwich on Monday but has “re-set my mind.”
“This is a prestigious title to win so even though I’ve got a clear idea of what next week is going to be like, I’ve got to play well here,” he said.
“I try to peak for the majors now, but you don’t disrespect the other tournaments by not giving 100%.”
Top threes in five of his last seven majors has Westwood examining himself, but he’s not finding anything obviously wrong.
He said, “I figure I need to improve everything just a little bit.
“Managing half a shot a round would have been the difference in two of those majors.”