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PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Florida (Reuters) - Ending a poor run of form, Britain's Graeme McDowell is back in contention at this week's Players Championship having questioned whether he was capable of regaining his ability.
McDowell rocketed up the world rankings last year from 50th to fifth, largely thanks to his victory at the U.S. Open, but has struggled this season, carding an eight-over-par 80 at Bay Hill, missing the cut at the Masters and lasting just two rounds in New Orleans.
"In New Orleans I hit rock bottom. I couldn't hit the ball any worse than I hit it there," McDowell told reporters after shooting a three-under 69 in the second round on Friday to keep himself in the title hunt at the TPC Sawgrass.
"You go through a spell like I've just gone through, where I couldn't piece anything together, and you have crazy thoughts like, 'will I ever win again?', 'will I ever be in contention again?', 'am I done?', 'am I finished?'
"It's just the craziness of this sport -- you never really know what's round the corner. There's no doubt my technique has been off the mark the last four or five weeks," added McDowell, who has missed three cuts in his last four PGA Tour starts.
"Sports psychologists say don't wait for the golf ball to make you happy, try to go out there and be happy. But the way my golf ball has been flying it's been pretty tough to be happy."
The 31-year-old Northern Irishman spent last week in Orlando with his coach Pete Cowen working on his swing and making a key adjustment which he believes has brought instant results.
LOST SELF-CORRECTION
McDowell felt his main problem during his recent run of poor form was an inability to self-correct swing mistakes while out on the course.
"Why did I fall out of the structure? Because things felt too easy and I think sometimes you forget the reasons why you're there -- the things you worked on with your swing to get you to the point where it feels easy," he said.
"I've been working very hard this year but I've been working on the wrong things. I've had zero structure in my practice. I didn't really know what I was trying to achieve to be honest with you.
"I've spent the last six weeks beating more golf balls than maybe I've ever hit, just searching, searching for something and I've really not been able to find it."
Now that he has found it, McDowell is back in contention at the Players and, with his U.S. Open title defence only a month away, he has regained his touch in perfect time.
"I said to my caddie yesterday, I miss being in contention. I miss the pressure. Let's try and get ourselves in the mix this weekend," he said after posting an eight-under total of 136.
"I realise now that my technique has been the biggest problem. I really have been swinging it badly. It feels good to go out there this week and make some swings, see the shots and execute them. It gives me confidence.
"This is why we love this game. It's why we hate it and why it keeps us coming back for more. But it feels good, really good this week."
(Editing by Mark Lamport-Stokes; To query or comment on this story email sportsfeedback@thomsonreuters.com)
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McDowell rocketed up the world rankings last year from 50th to fifth, largely thanks to his victory at the U.S. Open, but has struggled this season, carding an eight-over-par 80 at Bay Hill, missing the cut at the Masters and lasting just two rounds in New Orleans.
"In New Orleans I hit rock bottom. I couldn't hit the ball any worse than I hit it there," McDowell told reporters after shooting a three-under 69 in the second round on Friday to keep himself in the title hunt at the TPC Sawgrass.
"You go through a spell like I've just gone through, where I couldn't piece anything together, and you have crazy thoughts like, 'will I ever win again?', 'will I ever be in contention again?', 'am I done?', 'am I finished?'
"It's just the craziness of this sport -- you never really know what's round the corner. There's no doubt my technique has been off the mark the last four or five weeks," added McDowell, who has missed three cuts in his last four PGA Tour starts.
"Sports psychologists say don't wait for the golf ball to make you happy, try to go out there and be happy. But the way my golf ball has been flying it's been pretty tough to be happy."
The 31-year-old Northern Irishman spent last week in Orlando with his coach Pete Cowen working on his swing and making a key adjustment which he believes has brought instant results.
LOST SELF-CORRECTION
McDowell felt his main problem during his recent run of poor form was an inability to self-correct swing mistakes while out on the course.
"Why did I fall out of the structure? Because things felt too easy and I think sometimes you forget the reasons why you're there -- the things you worked on with your swing to get you to the point where it feels easy," he said.
"I've been working very hard this year but I've been working on the wrong things. I've had zero structure in my practice. I didn't really know what I was trying to achieve to be honest with you.
"I've spent the last six weeks beating more golf balls than maybe I've ever hit, just searching, searching for something and I've really not been able to find it."
Now that he has found it, McDowell is back in contention at the Players and, with his U.S. Open title defence only a month away, he has regained his touch in perfect time.
"I said to my caddie yesterday, I miss being in contention. I miss the pressure. Let's try and get ourselves in the mix this weekend," he said after posting an eight-under total of 136.
"I realise now that my technique has been the biggest problem. I really have been swinging it badly. It feels good to go out there this week and make some swings, see the shots and execute them. It gives me confidence.
"This is why we love this game. It's why we hate it and why it keeps us coming back for more. But it feels good, really good this week."
(Editing by Mark Lamport-Stokes; To query or comment on this story email sportsfeedback@thomsonreuters.com)
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