GMac provides the inspiration

By Mark Garrod, Press Association Sport Golf Correspondent Last updated: 12th July 2010

Graeme McDowell hopes the floodgates will open for fellow Europeans in the majors now the 40-year wait for a US Open has ended.

Graeme McDowell would love the floodgates to open for fellow Europeans in the majors now that he has ended a 40-year wait for a US Open champion.

But more than anything, of course, McDowell wants to add to his own account - as Padraig Harrington did following the 2007 Open.

Harrington followed his Carnoustie play-off victory over Sergio Garcia with a successful defence at Royal Birkdale - the first by a European since James Braid in 1906 - and a month after that became the continent's first US PGA winner for 78 years.

Now McDowell heads into The Open at St Andrews - where he shot a course record-equalling 62 in 2004 - riding the crest of a wave which has also carried Ian Poulter, Rory McIlroy, Justin Rose and Lee Westwood to titles in the States this season.

Never before has Europe had three consecutive weeks like those last month when Rose won the Memorial Tournament for his first victory in 162 US Tour starts, Westwood had his first success there since 1998 and then McDowell joined the greats who have triumphed at Pebble Beach.

"It was bit like a swan - calm on the outside, chaos underneath," said the 30-year-old Northern Irishman, describing the closing moments.

"I was pretty nervous on the 18th tee. I pulled out the driver and it's amazing how the brain plays tricks on you and you start thinking about what might happen and various different scenarios.

"I had thought about picking the trophy up during the day, but you really try not to let yourself get into thinking that way.

"Obviously the emotions were flying around, but you just have to get down to business.

"I was on cloud nine. I woke up feeling amazing and saw the trophy there in the corner of room. It hasn't left my sight since.

"You have very few opportunities to win majors. There are only four a year, they are tough and it's hard to get yourself in position to win.

"This was really my first time, but I've always been good at getting it done when I'm in contention and I can take a lot away in terms of how I competed and managed to complete the job.

"I spoke to Rory and we were talking about a few things and how he was really going to be playing hard now - he didn't want to be the only Irishman on the Ryder Cup team without a major championship.

"I'm sure a few other guys will feel that same and I'm sure that a lot of them will take a lot of belief from me winning.

"I certainly took something from other people and the names of Zach Johnson, Lucas Glover, Trevor Immelman, YE Yang all came into my head as I walked down 18.

"It just helps to put in focus that you can do it."

Among the people who got in touch with McDowell afterwards was Europe's last US Open champion Tony Jacklin.

"He emailed saying welcome to the club and see you in St Andrews."

Jacklin, of course, had won The Open the year before and finished fifth in his defence of the Claret Jug.

Seve Ballesteros and Nick Faldo have since won at the Home of Golf, though, and while Tiger Woods has won the last two there his problems have to increase the chances of another European winner.

Westwood is likely to be the one most heavily backed given his third place at Turnberry last year and his other near-misses in the 2008 US Open, 2009 US PGA and then The Masters in April, when only Phil Mickelson got the better of him.

But with 2008 runner-up Ian Poulter, Luke Donald, Paul Casey, McIlroy, Harrington, Martin Kaymer and Henrik Stenson also making the world's top 10 at various points this year the competition to be considered Europe's top player is stiff indeed.

Mark Garrod, Press Association Sport Golf Correspondent