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Graeme McDowell speaks at a press conference during practice day three of the 2014 Open Championship. Peter Byrne
Interview

'I don't want to be a one-hit wonder' - Graeme McDowell

The Irish golfer tees off at The Open Championship at Hoylake on Thursday.

GRAEME MCDOWELL SAID he wants to graduate beyond being “a one-hit wonder”, as he eyes a second major title this week.

Northern Ireland’s McDowell tees off at The Open Championship at Hoylake on Thursday, looking to add to his US Open victory in 2010.

McDowell has tallied 10 European Tour wins in his career – eight since 2008, including his US Open success — but it is the bigger prizes that the 34-year-old is targeting.

“It would mean huge amounts to me, I feel like I’m ready to kick on to the next chapter in my career now and compete and win more major championships,” McDowell said.

“I certainly don’t want to be a one-hit wonder and I’ve learned a lot over the last few years since my US Open victory.

“Two years ago at Lytham was the closest I’ve come to an Open Championship.

“This is my kind of golf course, this week. I want to give myself as many opportunities as I can to win majors. It’s hard to win, week in week out.

“There’s so many great players in the world now, winning regular tournaments are hard enough, winning majors is something a bit different, a bit special, so I’d love a Claret Jug.”

McDowell said he felt the UK major had eclipsed the Masters at Augusta for prestige.

“I think the Open Championship is the special one, there’s no doubt,” he said.

“Augusta kind of has the same mystique and tradition as well because of the venue, and what it creates and kind of walking in the footsteps of the greats.

“But The Open Championship seems to maintain that mystique as it goes around the various golf courses, it maintains that kind of pride, tradition, history, all of the above and the Claret Jug’s a bit special.”

McDowell tees off at 09:48 local time (08:48 GMT) on Thursday, alongside American Matt Kuchar and South Africa’s Louis Oosthuizen.

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