LIV Golf recruit simply desperate to qualify for The Open
Former U.S. Open champion Graeme McDowell has revealed why he is absolutely desperate to qualify for the final men's major of the year at Royal Portrush.
Former U.S. Open champion Graeme McDowell has revealed he's desperate to qualify for next month's Open Championship in Northern Ireland.
McDowell was among the first wave of ageing European Ryder Cup stars to join the PIF-backed LIV Golf League in 2022.
As a result, the 45-year-old has tumbled down the world rankings and is reliant, primarily, on qualifiers to get into golf's major championships.
McDowell confirmed to reporters after the first round of LIV Golf's stop in Virginia that he's planning on taking part in Final Qualifying for The Open at Royal Cinque Ports.
That takes place a few days after LIV's tournament in Dallas and G-Mac, currently ranked 1,454 in the OWGR, will have to undertake a 4,812-mile trip to the UK.
"With The Open going back to Royal Portrush this year, it's been a big focus," he said. "I went to Macau chasing a few of those spots, didn't get it done there.
"Like you said, I'll play Dallas and fly straight to London, and I'll go down to the qualifier.
"I'm going to Royal Cinque Ports on the Tuesday right after Dallas. Maybe not the best prep in the world coming from Dallas to London, but I'll be pretty fired up.
"It was a dream come true to be there in '19. I'm excited. It will certainly be bittersweet to not be there, but I'll definitely be giving it my full attention and be trying hard.
"It would be amazing. I mean, it's going to be, with everything that Rory's done this year, with Shane being the defending champion, to go back to Portrush, it's going to be a special week.
"It goes without saying that I'd love to be a part of it."
McDowell also tried to punch his ticket into next week's U.S. Open.
His exemption into the major has expired and therefore he was one of hundreds trying to get to Oakmont via golf's longest day.
He was in the field at Emerald Dunes Golf Club in Florida - where Ian Poulter's son agonisingly just missed out - but came up a few strokes shy.
McDowell said that he drew positives from the week. He explained LIV's schedule is a blessing and a curse.
"I really felt like that was a big help because at least I came out of there disappointed not to play better, but I came out of there knowing where my game was coming into this weekend," he said.
"Probably a little sharper than I would have been without that.
"It is something I've had to figure out a little bit the last couple seasons. I feel like I'm getting better at it.
"I used to wonder how Tiger [Woods] did it. Obviously he was really good, so that helped. But to play as little as he did and to show up kind of so sharp and so ready to play, it's an art form.
"It's something I struggled with early on in my LIV career, and I feel like I'm starting to get my head around it a little bit. I'm doing a better job of showing up after two, three weeks off ready to go."
The Open Championship takes place over 17-20 July.
Xander Schauffele is the defending champion.
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These days, he assumes the position of content manager.
