Pebble Beach is a harsh place, it lures you in with its sloping hills and shushing waves slaloming across its rocks and then spits you out with its murderous greens and needle-eye pins. One by one the superstars of the game fell to the course last night. Els, Woods and Mickelson briefly caught fire but were quickly cooled. The cruel implosion of Dustin Johnson, leading coming into final round was difficult to watch. He seemed in utter control in the previous three rounds but the mental strain of leading a major told. He left the door ajar and an steady Ulster man marched through.
Graeme McDowell never really features on anyone list when it comes to possible major winners. He is the steady Eddie of Irish golf. Padriag Harringtons extraordinary run of major success combined with the pyrotechnics of Rory Mcllroy consigned McDowell to the background.Even his excellent Ryder Cup performance two years ago at Tory Pines has been largely forgotten.
But last night will be remembered and how. It was not just the way he held his head while all around him seemed to be losing theirs. It was his nerves or lack of them. Strolling up the eighteenth McDowell chatted into the camera, wished all the dads a happy fathers day before sinking the two putts to etch his name in history.
Steady joins the superstars.
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