Graeme McDowell seeks ‘injection of confidence’ after tough US Open

The Northern Irishman, winner of the US Open in 2010, endured a torrid time at Winged Foot last week, missing the cut on 16 over par after rounds of 76 and 80.

The 41-year-old will look to put that behind him at the more sedate Corales Puntacana Resort & Club Championship in the Dominican Republic, an event he won last year.

McDowell said at a press conference: “I think it is important for me to come back down here this year and defend – great memories, and my game needs that little injection of confidence anyway.

“It is always great to come back to a golf course where you know you can make some birdies, as opposed to a golf course I’ve played at quite recently – maybe in the last four or five days.

“Birdies were a little tougher to come by at Winged Foot.”

McDowell’s victory last year was his first on the PGA Tour since 2015 and gave his career a shot in the arm.

“I think it was a very important victory for me in 2019,” he said. “I was playing on invites, I had a tough category in the PGA Tour, every opportunity was really important to me.

“I got off to a slow start but got the job done in the end. It’s good to be here this week.”

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