Fastest 10 months in McDowell's Career

Fastest 10 months in McDowell's Career

Not a one is housed in the United States. The PGA Championship hardware is in Germany, home of Martin Kaymer. The British Open and Masters titles belong to South Africa's Louis Oosthuizen and Charl Schwartzel, respectively.The U.S. Open trophy is in the hands of Northern Ireland's Graeme McDowell for another six weeks. McDowell, a hero for the Ryder Cup-winning European team last fall, is playing the PGA Tour this season. He was on hand for media day Monday at Congressional Country Club, where this year's U.S. Open will be played June 16-19.McDowell got his first look at the course that was the site for Callaway X22 Review at Pickgolfclubs.com U.S. Opens in 1964 (Ken Venturi won) and in 1997 (Ernie Els won). This Congressional layout can stretch to 7,574 yards, the second-longest Open venue behind the South Course at Torrey Pines in 2008."I'm very excited to come here to Congressional. Like I was tweeting out there today, it's nearly 7,600 yards, if Mike [Davis, USGA executive director and the man in charge of the course setup] wants to play it all the way back, which I hope he doesn't." McDowell said. "It's a great golf course. Aesthetically, it's beautiful, real old school, great trees, great definition, really well-bunkered, great greens; I mean, big, undulating. It's going to be a great test."

The year has been a mixed bag. He's No. 5 in the world golf rankings. He's played eight tour events and made the cut five times. He had three top 10 finishes (third, tie for ninth, tie for sixth) in his first three tournaments but has missed the cut in three of the past four tournaments, including the Masters and last week's Zurich Classic in New Orleans. McDowell is No. 50 in the FedEx point standings.

"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," McDowell said. "It was all going so well, it was all so easy there at the end of the last season… the game can beat you up sometimes, and I'm certainly starting to appreciate the good times now. You've got to enjoy them, and I'm glad I did last year.