Graeme McDowell British Open preview

McDowell became the first player from Europe to win the US Open Championship since Tony Jacklin in 1970 when he took the title at Pebble Beach in 2010, fighting off challenges from Ernie Els, Phil Mickelson and Tiger Woods in tough conditions on the final day. Followed up fourth place in the 2010 Madrid Masters with a three-stroke victory in the Wales Open thanks to a closing round of 63 over the Celtic Manor course.  It was his fifth European Tour triumph, but his first since the 2008 Scottish Open.

He won the Scandinavian Masters in only his fourth start after joining the European Tour in 2002. During his time at the University of Alabama he beat Tiger Woods’ record scoring average in winning six of 12 events with 69.6 and was rated No 1 collegiate golfer in the USA for two successive years. He was a member of the victorious GB&I 2001 Walker Cup team at Sea Island, Georgia.

McDowell hasn’t won anywhere since the 2010 Chevron World Challenge but he’s knocked on the door numerous times. His latest of three runner-up performances this year occurred at Olympic Club in the U.S. Open. Ranks second in fairways hit on PGA Tour.

Age: 32.

Country: Northern Ireland

World ranking: 11.

Worldwide wins: 7.

Majors: U.S. Open (2010).

At his best in 2012: One putt away from forcing a playoff at the U.S. Open.

At his worst in 2012: A stretch in the spring when he missed the cut, was runner-up, missed two cuts and was runner-up.

British Open moment: Three shots out of the lead going into the weekend at Royal Birkdale and falling back with an 80.

Overview: He seems to have recovered from his post-2010 hangover and should be a factor in the next two majors, particularly at Royal Lytham. His driving can be a liability though, and there’s an awful lot of bunkers at Lytham.

WagerWeb.com odds to win: +3000

Tee times (Thursday-Friday Eastern time): 4:31 a.m.-9:32 a.m. —Dustin Johnson, McDowell, Hiroyuki Fujita.

BRITISH OPEN RECORD

Year     pos       r1         r2         r3         r4         total

2011                68        77                                145

2010    23        71        68        76        70        285

2009    34        68        73        71        73        285

2008    19        69        73        80        72        294

2007    105      77        73

2006    61        66        73        72        79        290

2005    11        69        72        74        67        282

2004    133      79        73

Place your PGA golf bets at our online sportsbook!