G-Mac stunned by Congressional

McDowell: Struggling for form

Defending US Open champion Graeme McDowell admitted this year’s course is not for the faint-hearted following a visit to Congressional recently.

“The game can beat you up sometimes and I’m certainly starting to appreciate the good times now. “
Graeme McDowell Quotes of the week

The Northern Irishman, who is struggling to find his best form this season, admitted the course near Washington gave him a reality check some 11 months on from his magnificent win at Pebble Beach.

McDowell will be hoping not all the back tees will be used next month after he found the 494-yard uphill par-four 11th out of reach even with a good drive and a three-wood.

“I’m hoping I’ve got the wrong tee,” he said. “If they’re selling four fours that week I’ll buy them for plenty.

“Tough to say at this point if the golf course suits my game. I mean it was long this morning. I’m hoping it’s going to firm up a little bit.

“Of course the US Open is always a premium on accuracy, but out there this morning there was certainly a premium on distance as well.

“I’ve been off the boil for a couple months. I haven’t been very happy with my game, my long game especially, and I’m certainly experiencing a bit of the rougher side of the game at the minute.

“It was all so easy there at the end of the last season and the start of this year. The game can beat you up sometimes and I’m certainly starting to appreciate the good times now.

“I am looking forward to the challenge of digging my way out of this again and getting back to playing well. Every now and again you need a bit of a kick in the butt.”