McDowell excited for home Open appearance

Graeme McDowell (40/1 – 2019 Open Outright) says he is looking forward to playing in his hometown of Portrush at this year’s Open Championship as his preparations for the final Major of the season continue.

Northern Irishman McDowell has endured a difficult few seasons on tour and he had slipped to 259th in the world after finishing 82nd at The Honda Classic at the start of March.

However, the 39-year-old rediscovered his form when winning the Corales Puntacana Resort & Club Championship in March and he has managed to keep that momentum going with two top-10 finishes since that victory.

The four-time PGA Tour winner was in action at Pebble Beach last week for the US Open, a venue he triumphed at in 2010 for his one and only Major, and he ended up in a tie for 16th.

Having climbed to 89th in the world, McDowell is enjoying the game once again and he will be hoping to put on a good showing at Royal Portrush, which hosts the 148th Open from July 18-21.

‘G-Mac’ has revealed he will play at the Irish Open and Scottish Open before making his bid for a first Open title in his native Northern Ireland.

“It goes without saying that I am looking forward to going home for The Open at Portrush,” he told RTE Sport. “I am going to go there for a few days before the Irish [Open] and get my links groove going early, so by the time I get back to Portrush, I should know what I am doing.”

Defending Open champion Francesco Molinari is 16/1 to become the first player since Padraig Harrington in 2008 to win back-to-back Claret Jugs, while home favourite Rory McIlroy is priced at 9/1.

American Brooks Koepka, who finished second in last week’s US Open, currently leads the betting at 8/1.

Odds subject to change