Two Macs in Cadillac Ranch

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Rory McIlroy and Graeme McDowell are one shot off the lead at the halfway stage of the WGC Cadillac Championship at Doral.

Welshman Jamie Donaldson carded the low round of the day with a two-under 70 and is also one adrift at level par.

Americans Patrick Reed, Matt Kuchar, Hunter Mahan and Dustin Johnson - who was three clear at one stage - lead.

Tiger Woods is six shots adrift after a 73 on a day when gusting winds caused more than 100 shots to find water.

The world number one, declared "we've all got a shot at it now" despite his one-over-par round leaving him seven shots off the pace.

Woods, who earlier in the day completed a first-round 76, his highest score in 40 completed rounds at the formidable Blue Monster course, mixed five bogeys and four birdies, including a 91-foot effort at the par three fourth.

At the same stage in last year's tournament 43 players were under par.

But with 14 of the 18 holes at the redesigned Trump National lay-out featuring water, only Donaldson, McDowell (71) and American Chris Kirk, who shares 11th after a 71, returned under par second rounds on a day when the average score was four-over-par 76.

"It was just about playable," said McDowell, who dropped only one stroke in round two. "I can't remember playing in stronger winds, certainly on this side of the pond."

McIlroy, who began the round two shots off the lead after an opening 70, played the first nine in 40 after two bogeys and a double bogey but picked up his first birdie with a six-foot putt at the 11th.

At the 224-yard part three 12th he sent a five-wood to 18 inches to earn another birdie and, after dropping a shot at the 14th, he birdied the 16th having driven through the green at the par four hole.

Donaldson took his shoes and socks off and stood in the water to play out from the edge of a hazard during his round, which contained three birdies.

Open champion Phil Mickelson, playing alongside McIlroy, began his round with three successive double bogeys.

He recovered to compile five birdies and, with no cut in the event, Mickelson is in a group including Woods and Englishman Ian Poulter sharing 25th place at five over.

World number two Adam Scott, who can replace Woods at the top of the world rankings if he wins the event and the American finishes outside the top-10, is one shot better off in a tie for 21st at plus four after a second successive round featuring four birdies and two double bogeys.

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McIlroy Should Skip Suits

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A few weeks after Graeme McDowell broke the European hoodoo at the US Open and was embraced by his Father and manager on the eighteenth green at Pebble Beach, the same scene was virtually replayed in front of the clubhouse of Killarney Golf Club when Ross Fisher was greeted by the founder of Horizon Sports, Conor Ridge a few weeks later. Celebrating as the 2010 Irish Open winner with Fisher pocketing the highest prize money ever in the 38 year history of the event – a cheque for €500K. 

Standing beside the Horizon founder that day our small talk was about all the buses coming together. Not surprisingly.

The Dublin based company had within five years been catapulted into the big time after their number one talent equalled Tony Jacklin‘s achievement at Hazeltine National golf club in June 1970. The Midas touch much in evidence, at least from the outside, as that forty year record was finally broken by McDowell on US soil. Now in Killarney that Sunday their newest recruit unexpectedly clinching the 3 Irish Open and fulfilling his promise.

That weekend the other Horizon talents did their bit too; Michael Hoey collecting a cheque for €90,000 with a 7th place finish; Shane Lowry, the 2009 Irish open winner, ending up 21st but unable to match his success at County Louth the previous summer. But still the recipient of €32,550, a nice addition to the €24,450 McDowell earned for his work. From which Horizon would retain a rate commission as normal from golfers on-course income. 

At that time in terms of Irish golf the Horizon operation controlled all players of note and the future looked bright with everything the company touched turning to gold. Not unlike that Hollywood picture story featuring Tom Cruise and Cuba Gooding Jnr. Except it was a better version than Jerry Maguire. Horizon Sports were already seeing the money early doors.

Within fifteen months another US Open Champion would join them only months after spectacularly demolishing the field at Congressional on Father’s Day in June 2011. In what was a shock to his management company of the day, International Sports Management, McIlroy walked off into the sunset to join the Irish company that now boasted two major winners, both from Northern Ireland and with titles won in back to back years. The story could not have been any better if it had been made up.

Then in 2012 McIlroy hit a career run that was saw a greater level of media scrutiny, enhanced by a new relationship with WTA World Number 1 tennis player at the time, Caroline Wozniacki. A very public relationship shared in the way much of the new generation sports celebrities chose to live their lives – through social media. But one that appeared to traditionalists as a hindrance to McIlroy’s golf game and future success. A criticism that was neutralised at Kiawah Island that summer when McIlroy won this second major at the PGA Championship. 

A win achieved contrary to the best pundit predictions setting McIlroy on his Major chase and hailed by Gary Player as the next golfing great.

In the FedEx Cup Rory then won the BMW Championship and The Deutsche Bank Championship, after bagging the Honda Classic earlier the same season, giving him four PGA Tour wins in the one year. All ironically just about a season after resigning his PGA Tour card when he was at ISM, in preference for the European Tour. Sadly though, within a year the same Rory McIlroy was to walk off the course inexplicably at the Honda Classic at the PGA National Resort in Palm Beach Gardens.

More alarm bells rang in the September when at Medinah Golf Cub Rory almost failed to arrive for his singles match on the final day. Relying on the magic of a State Trooper to get him to the tee box on time for his match against Keegan Bradley in a tense Ryder Cup. An oversight that should not have arisen for a player of his experience. Or from the cadre of the staff at Horizon and one that came very close to rendering the word “sports management” an oxymoron.

Had Team Europe lost the match on McIlroy’s disqualification it would have irreversibly tarnished a global event that has dominated the game of golf between USA and Europe for many decades. 

More unease came a few months later in Dubai when the season kick-off was overshadowed by the mega sponsorship deal McIlroy had struck with Nike was announced. One that required McIlroy moving lock, stock and smoking barrel from long time partners to the one global brand.

Although a superbly lucrative deal financially, it did not come without health warnings from respected names in the game. Principally Sir Nick Faldo, who in his mellow senior years reflected on his disastrous equipment changes during a glittering career of six majors, and cautioning McIlroy to be wary.

The proof of those concerns came at the WGC Accenture Match Play event in February this year when McIlroy’s testing of the Nike equipment saw him lose his first round a match to friend, Horizon stable-mate and fellow Irishman, Shane Lowry. An event that preceded his now infamous one and half round appearance at the Honda Classic in Florida. A day from which he has failed to recover any winning form and one that for all the PR management still remains inexplicable to golfers of all levels.

It was no surprise therefore in May this year that rumours first circulated of an impending split with his management company. Proving that all that glitters is not gold.

Finally in late September the breakdown with Horizon Sports was made official, in a terse statement, just one month short of two years since McIlroy had left ISM. And as of that moment McIlroy was with his own management team and will now head to the courts to resolve the contractual difficulties for remainder of the five year deal signed with Horizon two years ago. Compounded by a new ten year deal agreed with Nike, that only started last January. 

All of which can only add to the off-course headaches and potential distractions for his on-course work.

As the 21st highest paid athlete in the world last year, according to Forbes, this seems a time that McIlroy needs to walk off and just get back to playing. To really focus in order to fulfil all the promise and emulate some of the major achievements of Tiger Woods or Jack Nicklaus. If that is indeed what he wants to do. 

Yet some worrying signs that pervaded the last year still persist and best captured by his on-going appearances on the social media network, Twitter.  The latest a dinner in Dublin with US President Bill Clinton and Bono of U2, albeit in the off season. Which was followed by a round of golf with Clinton the next day and yet another picture on Twitter. 

All a contrast to the more private Tiger Woods about whom it would be hard to even Google a photo playing golf with a US President, past or present. Even if it has happened on more occasions. But the work ethic of Woods is so ingrained there seems a natural reluctance to be seen relaxing and perhaps part of his psychological warfare for winning. All clearly tested when Woods personal life became very public in December 2009 and impacted his career on the course and a level of unwanted public scrutiny. 

Yet a time when he relied on the modus operandi of International Management Group [IMG], the founders of sports management and set up by Mark McCormack. The man who invented the images of Arnold Palmer and Jack Nicklaus in the 1960’s and what we know today as sports marketing.

Although much comparison has been made with the way Tiger Woods operates today with his agent, former IMG staffer Mark Steinberg. Or indeed Roger Federer, who also has formed his own company with the extended family after departing IMG. The comparisons with McIlroy are misguided given these two sports icons have done so in their twilight years, rather than at the dawn of their ambitions. 

Federer do so with a record haul of tennis titles and a decade' dominance at Wimbledon - unlikely ever to be repeated. A similar position that Tiger holds in modern day golf with only Nicklaus’s record eluding him thus far.  Ironically Nicklaus is perhaps the exception to the IMG syndrome as he decided to leave and set up his own company midway through his career. 

However, when the Golden Bear left IMG in 1970 - to form his own eponymous enterprise - he was 30 years of age and had already won eight of his eighteen majors. Similarly, when Woods left IMG he was into his thirties and had demolished most records in the game by that time.

In the case of Woods the added anomaly could have been his Father, a man who saw 20 years of Army service and two tours as a Green Beret officer in Vietnam. Which it is said, forged Earl's life philosophy and may have helped develop his son's mental discipline - which has been so valuable throughout his career. 

For Tiger clearly there has never been any gain without pain – regardless of his management company. It’s time now Rory found his mantra and sticks with it through thick and thin so the titles can start rolling in.

Rory should forget too the lawyers, write a cheque if needs be and then focus on gathering silverware on the golf course. There are no real winners in lengthy legal cases. Nor are there any majors to be won in the courts.

It would also allow Horizon Sports get back to the yellow brick road they seem to travel so well and focus on what they do best. Sprinkling their magic dust.

As Mark McCormack once said:

"Every transaction has a life of its own… Some need tender loving care, some need to be hurried away."

OSM - All rights reserved.

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Lawsuits on the Horizon

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Rory McIlroy has launched legal action against his former management agency Horizon  Sports Management according to newspaper reports in Ireland .

An article in the national daily, The Irish Independent, indicate that the two time major winner has lodged papers in the High Court on Monday in Dublin against Horizon Sports Management, and two other named companies, Gurteen and Canavan Management. 

Apparently McIlroy is launching a plenary action and has engaged A&L Goodbody according to court records.

Yesterday the Sunday Independent reported that McIlroy had fired his Dublin based sports agency after paying them a staggering €5m over an 18-month period.

McIlroy decided to part company with Horizon Sports Management because he believed they were costing him too much money.

It is reported that McIlroy believes that the $7.5m he says the group was paid over the one-and-a-half year period did not make business sense, despite having willingly signed up to the agreement two years ago.

The Major winner believes he had no option but to sever ties with the company, which is headed up by Conor Ridge as his contract does not run out until 2017.

McIlroy has now joined his own company, Rory McIlroy Incorporated, which is run by CEO Donal Casey.

Horizon Sports Management also represent two other Irish golfers, US Open Champion Graeme McDowell and the 3 Irish open winner from 2009, Shane Lowry.

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Time for McIlroy's Management

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It was a runaway success from the start and Horizon Sports leveraged the Rory McIlroy brand for every penny it was worth since the Holywood golfer decided to switch and leave TeamISM. Doing so shortly after winning his first major at the age of 22, and equalling the record of two of golf's greatest icons, Jack Nicklaus and Tiger woods. It was a moment that set the talented young golfer on a track that made the media also expects him to win every tournament, and become another Tiger. Who with his customary red shirt on Sunday seemed to obliterate any field, very often by just showing up on the first tee box on the Sunday. 

The speed of that progress was supposedly all under control and as the results started to roll in as Rory played more in the USA – something that ISM seemed against – he conquered America. Making his mark on the PGA Tour very quickly by winning the PGA Championship at Kiawah Island last summer, consolidating the Nicklaus Woods title trajectory in a very timely way. By adding the Deutsche and the BMW McIlroy confirmed his arrival, all of which first started in 2010 when at the tender age of 21 he won at Quail hollow. The return to The Honda Classic therefore this year was a formality, a visit to a happy hunting ground and the defence of a title that if he retained, would equal Nicklaus 1977 and 1978 record. So far unbeaten even after 35 years. 

There was nothing in the build-up to suggest a problem. 

Except in hindsight perhaps, as his girlfriend Caroline Wozniacki collapsed out of the Malaysian Open in the first round, beaten by qualifier Wang Qiang. The Dane, who was feeling unwell after suffering a high temperature, hardly chased Wang's returns in the closing stages of the match in Kuala Lumpur and lost 2-6, 7-6 (7-1), 6-1. A result that had come on the foot of gossip in the week that suggested that “Wozzilroy” were engaged. Or about to do so after Wozniacki seemed obliged to tell reporters: “I enjoy everything that’s happening right now and how things are. Marriage? We’re still young and we have many years in front of us.” 

When asked if she would accept now if McIlroy proposed, she burst into laughter, saying: “This is getting personal.” 

Thousands of miles away McIlroy was then leaving the PGA National without even completing the ninth whole saying to some reporters within earshot: “There’s not really much I can say, guys,” 

“I’m not in a good place mentally, you know?” 

When asked about his swing, the 23-year-old from Northern Ireland replied, “Yeah, I really don’t know what’s going on.” 

About an hour after he left, McIlroy released a statement that pinned his withdrawal on dental problems. 

It is very surprising that a major issue should not have been detected by someone in his usually extensive entourage before it reached that stage. 

But then again maybe it should not be a total surprise as at Medinah McIlroy was close to missing his tee off time on the final day of the Ryder Cup - after getting his US time zones mixed up. It was a state trooper that got him to the course within the allotted time limit and his vital singles match against Keegan Bradley. And regardless of the happy outcome for Europe in the end it seems bizarre that such a lapse by his team was allowed occur. In sports management a lot of tough love is required at these key moments as few of the top athletes in the world are without flaws – surprisingly human like the rest of us. Many only find success because of the enforcers around them who ensure that all the little things are done properly. 

At Palm Beach Gardens this week something vital somewhere was clearly missed. 

There is also a worry about the ten year Nike deal. Not the deal itself, but the very public manner in which it was handled and the apparent lack of any visible transition from Titleist for the golfer. Given McIlroy seemed to just start suddenly playing with the Nike clubs as soon as he reached Abu Dhabi for the PR launch in January. Something not even Woods did that swiftly. In fact, engaging in a much slower move over, perhaps knowing that even the subtlest of equipment changes can make for trouble. A point that Sir Nick Faldo was very vocal about, albeit his experiences were dismissed by Rory it seems, perhaps believing there was some malice in the remarks. 

Perhaps so. 

Yet the truth is Faldo is less into mind games these days and a better analyst as a result of his own stubbornness and learning’s on the course, which at times caused him visible setbacks. Indeed with age he has matured into a connoisseur of the game and from the commentary he often shares his rich expertise. 

On another level, the switch made by Graeme McDowell in 2011 to Srixon - even if less lucrative and high profile - should have highlighted the pitfalls with his stable. It summarily showed how a winner of everything in 2010 could suddenly become a loser of everything in 2011 and 2012. Indeed, only now is GMAC returning with a vengeance and at the Honda Classic is hunting down his first win in nearly three years. Yet looking from the outside Horizon Sports seemed to believe that McIlroy was indefatigable and indestructible. And perhaps we all did, despite all the naysayer’s warnings, as thus far the double major winner has surprised everybody with his apparent ability to handle everything – bar the tenth at Augusta in 2010. 

More importantly, it seemed his added strength was being able to bounce back after adversity – and win. No better example than Kiawah Island – which came after a string of missed cuts and a torrid few days at the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth. 

But meltdowns happen, and can shake the most talented of stars. Just ask Sergio Garcia one of the last European prodigies before McIlroy’s arrival, who will still not look forward to a return to Whistling Straits in 2 years - after his televised meltdown a few years in one of the bunkers at the PGA Championship. But Garcia, now some years later - like many who fell out of love with the game – proves that distance is a healer. Which is what Rory had promised to do over the close season and apparently did spending weeks with girlfriend Wozniacki in Australia for the start of the tennis swing down under. All to ready him for the new season. 

Regretfully it failed at the first hurdle. 

At the much hyped appearance of Woods and McIlroy at the Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship but missing the cut. After which he stuck with his planned weeks off before the WGC-Accenture matchplay. In the first round in Tucson he lost to his friend Shane Lowry, who was appearing in the Arizona Desert for the first time, and then arrived at the PGA National to play only one round and eight holes before bolting off the course - inexplicably. Only to release a statement later about wisdom teeth trouble. 

As Rory now reflects over the 14 days about how he formally presents his departure to the PGA Tour, the sponsors Honda, he has established an unfortunate new record of his own that Woods and Nicklaus have never matched. 

But whatever the reason for his decision one now has to wonder about the weight of carrying an ever increasing number of sponsors, Bose being added only two nights ago. All adding to the existing demands of being world number 1 on his ready limited free time. Which is a mix of an idyllic lifestyle crisscrossing the world to meet up with his girlfriend and many breaks in-between tournaments. Begging the question about self-discipline? And, or, practice time, something that Tiger Woods almost did to in exess. And even Padraig Harrington suffered for over the years. 

Regardless of his natural talent it seems that this is an area where McIlroy should spend more time – even if it is just to reduce the distractions and get some time on his own. 

For all major achievers in sport over the years it is self-discipline or obsessiveness – enforced or self-inflicted – that has brought success. Even if at a cost to their personal lives. Be it Bjorn Borg so carefully mastered by Lennart Bergelin to set records at Wimbledon, or Andre Agassi's tough daily routine from his Father in Las Vegas that won him the majors. Or indeed Tiger’s military style upbringing under his Father Earl. A structure is clearly needed to retain focus. Albeit not perfect. 

All of us left to our own devices would skip homework if we had enough cash in the bank. 

At times too, the talent needs to be stopped making decisions for their own health and survival and just told what to do and where to be. Not a pretty sight at times. But a must to achieve greatness in any sport. 

If all this is being done by his entourage already, then something else is afoot and it is more serious than wisdom teeth.

OSMedia 2013 - All rights reserved 

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Two Mac's Open European Defence

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Rory McIlroy and Graeme McDowell will launch Europe’s bid to retain The Ryder Cup against Jim Furyk and Brandt Snedeker in Friday’s opening foursomes match.

The Northern Irish pair, who teamed up three times in Europe’s victory at The Celtic Manor Resort, were chosen by José María Olazábal to lead out at Medinah.

Unbeaten foursomes pair Luke Donald and Sergio Garcia will look to extend their incredible record against Phil Mickelson and Keegan Bradley in game two, before Lee Westwood and Francesco Molinari take on Jason Dufner and Zach Johnson.

The final game of the morning session also promises to be a classic as English pair Ian Poulter and Justin Rose face World Number Two Tiger Woods and Steve Stricker.Woods and Stricker boast a 6-2 winning record together, but their last two games were the 6 and 5 beating by Westwood and Donald in Wales two years ago and then a 7 and 6 loss to Adam Scott and K J Choi at the start of last November's Presidents Cup.

They did not play together again that week after that.

It means the four left out by Olazábal, who shed a few tears during the opening ceremony at the first mention of the late Seve Ballesteros, were Scot Paul Lawrie, Germany's former World Number One Martin Kaymer, Swede Peter Hanson and Belgian newcomer Nicolas Colsaerts.

The quartet kept waiting to play by Love were his two Major winners this year - Masters Tournament champion Bubba Watson and US Open Champion Webb Simpson - plus Dustin Johnson and Matt Kuchar.

It would have been a huge shock if McIlroy and McDowell were not together again.

Close friends and compatriots, they had one win, one half and one loss two years ago, but won three out of four in the 2009 Seve Trophy in Paris and have twice been Omega Mission Hills World Cup partners as well.

In Donald, Garcia and Westwood Europe can call on three players with outstanding foursomes records in the event.

Donald will be looking to make it a perfect seven out of seven.

His first four wins in 2004 and 2006 came with Garcia as his partner and two years ago he won with Poulter and then with Westwood.

Garcia is unbeaten in nine foursomes, eight of them victories, while Westwood has not lost any of his last ten games in the format going back to 1999.

His partners in that time have been Darren Clarke, Garcia, Colin Montgomerie, Kaymer and Donald - and now he links up with the Italian whose debut two years ago came alongside his brother Edoardo.

A month after that Molinari pipped Westwood to his first World Golf Championships title in Shanghai - with the best of the rest nine shots further back.

Garcia remains the only teenager ever to appear in the match, his debut in 1999 coming a month after he and Woods battled for the US PGA Championship at Medinah.

Jesper Parnevik was his first partner and they won their opening three games and got a half in the other, while in subsequent foursomes the Spaniard has won with Westwood, Donald and Olazábal.

Rose and Poulter won two of their three games together four years ago, Rose not making the 2010 match despite winning twice in America that summer.

Mickelson has won only two of his last 14 pairs games in the event, but was always expected to start with Bradley in his ninth appearance, an American record.

Olazábal told the crowd in his speech his side "have every intention of taking it (the cup) back home" with them and also managed to pay his latest tribute to his former partner Ballesteros, who died in May last year following a long battle with a brain tumour.

"Of course I can't forget a great friend in the name of Seve Ballesteros," he said. "He was a special man. I believe Seve reflected the core of Ryder Cup values - no quitting and be prepared to chase any adversity.

"From him I learnt what true passion is all about. Seve, we miss you."

All eight omitted from the opening session will be hoping to enter the fray in the afternoon fourballs.

It is the first time since 1995 - Mickelson's debut - that neither he nor Woods have been involved in the opening game.

Snedeker's quick pace played a part in Love's decision to go with him and Furyk first.

The hardest part of Love's day, though, was telling "four of the best golfers in the world" they would be sitting on the bench all morning.

He described Woods and Stricker - and also Johnson and Dufner - as "pretty cool customers at the end".

McIlroy said: "I can't wait. Leading the side off we are going to go out there and get the blue on the board early.

"It is a great honour to lead Europe out and to be honest they are not the opponents we were expecting.

"We know that their team is so strong all the way through, but it was a little surprise to see a rookie in their first group."

McDowell added: "We are going to use the World Number One's power and precision and I will just knock a few tap-ins in.

"I am very proud to be playing alongside my great friend and the greatest player on the planet.

"I was expecting Phil and Keegan to go first, but obviously Davis has his strategies.

"Tomorrow morning's session is hugely important and José María has stressed that. We really feel that it is very important to make a fast start.

"We are pretty pumped for this whole thing."

Donald said: "We've obviously both got unbeaten records in foursomes and we have played well together in the past.

"It should be a great match against two very good players. They obviously know each other well, but Sergio and I do and we have had some great success together.

"Obviously Phil has a lot of experience and Keegan is a rookie, but it's not a pairing that surprises you because they play a lot of golf together.

"But we've had some success against Phil before and hopefully we can again tomorrow.

"It should be a great atmosphere with Phil playing and hopefully I will get some support as I live in Chicago and Sergio obviously has some special memories from here." He was runner-up to Woods in the 1999 US PGA.

Garcia added: "He's my best friend on Tour and we get on great in foursomes together.

"We are going to try as hard as we can to bring back a point for the European Team."

Friday morning foursome matches:

7.20am Rory McIlroy & Graeme McDowell v Jim Furyk & Brandt Snedeker

7.35am Luke Donald & Sergio Garcia v Phil Mickelson & Keegan Bradley

7.50am Lee Westwood & Francesco Molinari v Jason Dufner & Zach Johnson

8.05am Ian Poulter & Justin Rose v Steve Stricker & Tiger Woods

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Jumping GMAC Set for Open Action

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Graeme McDowell hopes he can ensure his premonition of The Claret Jug remaining in Northern Irish hands comes true in The 141st Open Championship at Royal Lytham.

For the second Major in succession, McDowell will start the final round in the last group after a third round 67 saw him finish seven under par, four shots behind leader Adam Scott.

The 32 year old finished second, just one shot behind champion Webb Simpson, as he sought a second US Open crown in San Francisco last month, but now aims to go one better and follow in the footsteps of last year's Open Champion and fellow Ulsterman Darren Clarke.

"Darren was getting a few snaps and a few family portraits done with The Claret Jug last week," McDowell explained. "Some of the photos were pretty cool and I said to him, 'I've got a funny feeling that we'll maybe be bringing that Claret Jug back to Northern Ireland next week'.

"I was talking really from the opportunities that myself and him and Rory (McIlroy) and Michael Hoey have as a whole, and I guess it would be fairly prophetic if I happened to get the job done tomorrow evening.

"There's no doubt I think Darren will be an inspiration and someone that I'll think about a little bit tomorrow. Since I was a young boy I dreamed of coming down that last fairway on a Sunday afternoon, the last group in The Open Championship.

"This is special for me, back-to-back Major Championships to be in the last group on a Sunday afternoon.

"I talked about it early in the week. I can't expect to win this week, but what I can expect to do is compete if I do the right things, and to give myself a chance to be within three or four of the lead going into a Sunday afternoon and playing with the leader. That's really all I can ask and I'm right where I want to be."

Despite coming so close to winning the US Open again last month, McDowell was able to take the positives from being in serious contention for a Major for the first time since his victory at Pebble Beach in 2010.

"I think if you compare the final rounds of myself and (playing partner) Jim Furyk at Olympic, I was probably able to walk away a lot more positive than perhaps Jim was," McDowell added. "Jim had it right there and just didn't get the job done the last three holes.

"I kind of blew mine early doors. Through nine holes I'm four over par and my US Open chances are kind of gone. I battled really hard on the back nine to give myself a glimmer of hope, and it was only a glimmer.

"It's the first time I've really put myself in the absolute heat of the battle in a little while. I was reminded that I'm able to control my emotions correctly. I'm able to stay in the moment and just accept that tomorrow can go great and tomorrow can go badly.

"I can just try and hit the shots that I want and perhaps it will go my way tomorrow."

McDowell believes Lytham has been a "sleeping giant" so far this week with soft fairways and virtually no wind, but would prefer some testing conditions on Sunday to ensure Australia's Scott has to work for his first Major title.

"With conditions like today, perhaps four shots is insurmountable, because it will be in Adam's hands," McDowell added. "Throw a bit of wind across this course like perhaps they are forecasting, he will have to go and work a lot harder and he will have to go win it.

"It will be a case of keeping your head down for 13 or 14 holes, that's what I did at Pebble. I'm in a very similar position to what I was at Pebble, where I was three back. He (Scott) is going to be the guy who's going to sleep on the lead tonight. He's going to be the guy with all the pressure.

"And what I did at Pebble was just keep my head down for 11 or 12 holes and just come up for air and see where I'm at and refocus and get the head back down again.

"I'm probably not the only man in this field that's thought about picking this Claret Jug up. I've already thought about a few various liquids that I'd like to put in there and taste what they might taste like out of The Claret Jug.

"But I'm not the only man that wants this thing tomorrow. All I can do is dream big, and I certainly will be dreaming big tonight."