For many golfers winning a major championship has represented the fulfilment of a career ambition. Achieving that burning objective has, either by accident or design, often been the signal to take the foot off the gas and ease into retirement knowing that an important job has been well done. Of the 199 different players to have triumphed in one of the four key events on the calendar, less than half of them have gone on to repeat the feat and only 26 men have more than three major honours to their credit.
Graeme McDowell, the latest to join this exclusive club after his battling US Open victory at Pebble Beach last weekend, would have been forgiven for taking a "this will be the highlight of my sporting life" approach after holding off challenges from players such as Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson and Ernie Els on the final day of the event at Pebble Beach. Far from it. McDowell, 30, a respectable six-title performer on the European Tour until Sunday's life-changing experience, was keen to convey the message that this could be the "start" of something special.
Inspired by the triple-major-winning accomplishments of Padraig Harrington, his fellow Irishman, albeit from south of the border, McDowell also declared an intention to capitalise on his lengthy wait for a breakthrough by joining the small group of multi-winners of major titles. His swift assertion that St Andrews, venue for next month's British Open, has treated him well in the past - he shot a 62 there in the 2004 Dunhill Masters - will be music to the ears of all Irishmen who are on the brink of a golden era following the emergence of Rory McIlroy alongside Harrington and now McDowell as a potential golfing legend.
McDowell, whose game was well honed for the perils of Pebble Beach by many years of battling the elements at his home links course of Royal Portrush, fooled most observers on Saturday night into thinking that his challenge to become the first European to win the US Open since Tony Jacklin in 1970 had collapsed. His reaction to what was a sensational third-round closing birdie from Woods from behind a tree on the long 18th was to bogey two of his of his final three holes and trudge disconsolately to the clubhouse.
A commanding seven-stroke advantage over the world No 1 had been reduced to only two by Woods's powerful finish that day. The stage was set for Woods to roar past McDowell and Dustin Johnson, the overnight leader, on the final afternoon. Johnson, who like McDowell was desperately seeking his first major, quickly fitted into that scenario by falling apart with a closing 82, but McDowell was in no mood to occupy a supporting role that has been filled by England's Lee Westwood at recent big events and he held his nerve impressively.
McDowell's victory takes him into the lead in the European Tour's Race to Dubai which concludes with the Dubai World Championship in November and also promotes him from a strong contender for a Ryder Cup place to a certainty to play against the United States at Celtic Manor in Wales in early October. Westwood, McIlroy and Ian Poulter, who have also triumphed on American soil this year, are in the other guaranteed places in what is shaping up to be a strong European line-up for the biennial match-play showdown against Corey Pavin's cup holders.
A strong PGA Tour performance from Harrington in the Travelers Tournament which starts at Cromwell, Connecticut, today would bring more cheer to a contented Colin Montgomerie, the European captain, who is already planning his tactics for Europe's bid to win back the Ryder Cup from the Americans. A month ago, Woods was being described as being uncertain of his Ryder Cup selection. The brilliance of his third-round 66 on what is admittedly one of his favourite courses at Pebble Beach, went a long way towards dismissing that notion that he will not be part of the squad.
By the time he arrives at another of his favourite venues, St Andrews, next month, his rehabilitation should be complete. Woods demonstrated, in the most trying of conditions along the Pacific Coast, that he still has the ability to master the toughest of courses but the mental strength, which propelled him to 14 major titles, appears to have been damaged by the crisis in his personal life. A tie for fourth place in the Masters at Augusta in April was followed by a similar placing last weekend alongside Phil Mickelson, his fiercest rival, as Woods remains stuck on 14 majors in his quest to overhaul Jack Nicklaus's all-time record of 18 majors.
But having won the last two British Opens at St Andrews in 2000 and 2005, he will be in good heart for his bid at a hat-trick. At least Woods performed well enough to avert the threat from Mickelson to his world No 1 ranking. Woods has been in that position now for 263 weeks and for a total of 605 weeks in his career. That promises to be an intriguing side issue when the the game's two leading characters arrive at the home of golf on Scotland's east coast next month for the third major of the season.
wjohnson@thenational.ae
