DUBAI DUTY FREE IRISH OPEN

July 2, 2021

Graeme McDowell

Mount Juliet Estate

Quick Quotes

Q. Graeme, well-played today. What was the difference?

GRAEME McDOWELL: I think the putter. I think I hit it close enough on 10 and 11 where I couldn't miss, so I got myself off to a nice start.

I putted awful yesterday, which really killed any momentum early on because I actually hit the ball quite solid the first nine holes yesterday.

But greens were a little smoother this morning. I think these poa annua style greens, they can get a little chewed up in the afternoons, and my confident with the putter is a little low, anyway, and you know, yesterday I just got off to a terrible start with it late and it continued.

But I actually had 2-putters with me. I put a fresh one in the bag this morning, and it actually felt much more solid. And with smoother greens, like I say, I was able to knock a couple in and keep the round alive.

Q. After the disappointment of yesterday, you must be pleased with the resilience to bounce back like that today?

GRAEME McDOWELL: Yeah, listen, it's so important, even looking forward to next week, the big key with this game is 65, 66, 67, you feel good about yourself as awe move on; there's always next week. But if you're missing cuts and going home on Friday night, you miss that weekend and you miss the opportunity to build.

And I think that's been one of the main problems the last 12 months is the amount of cuts that I've missed, which has just killed that ability to create confidence. Because even 50th spot going out on a Sunday and shooting 65, you take something into the following week.

So making the weekend here, having the ability to be able to create like a little bit of momentum as I move into a huge week next week, not ruling out the chance of shooting something low tomorrow and having a chance here on Sunday.

But like I say, key to have four rounds.

Q. What's achievable from this position this weekend?

GRAEME McDOWELL: I have to continue to putt a little better than I'm putting. Today was an improvement. Get the ball in the fairway.

I think there are low scores to be out there and weather looks obviously a little more unsettled this weekend. We'll see. Looks like the Irish Open might show up tomorrow.