• Open Championship

McDowell admits McIlroy Open fears

ESPN staff
July 6, 2011
Rory McIlroy has been rubbing shoulders with sporting stars since his US Open win © Getty Images
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Graeme McDowell has warned compatriot Rory McIlroy that he faces a mental rather than physical battle when he tees it up as a major champion at next week's Open Championship.

McIlroy has not played a competitive round of golf since demolishing the field to win his first major at the US Open. He has taken a break to recharge the batteries and has been seen rubbing shoulders with a host of star names at Wimbledon.

The expectation that surrounds McIlroy is now huge and McDowell can relate, having won last year's US Open. He performed with credit at the Open but could not mount a challenge, finishing in a tie for 23rd, and feels his fellow Ulsterman will have to contend with a new level of attention.

"What hit me last year this week and the week of the Open was the response from inside and outside the ropes," McDowell said ahead of the Scottish Open at Castle Stuart. "So many people patting you on the back and shaking your hand. It really is hard to focus.

"It is going to be hard for Rory when he turns up next week to be concentrating on the Open Championship, he will still be living three or four weeks ago at Congressional. But at the same time being at home, he has had two weeks to get it out of his system, and this week he will be getting the business head back on.

"I know he is going down on Thursday or Friday and I think he will be reasonably ready to go and it is about how he copes with the mental stuff with the attention from everyone. That was what I found hard, it is overwhelming."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
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