Graeme McDowell
Age: 33
From: Northern Ireland
Winner of the 2010 US Open, and the player to hole the winning putt at Celtic Manor in 2010, Graeme McDowell – fondly known as GMac to his army of fans - received an honorary doctorate from the University of Ulster last year for his services to golf “even though I didn’t really do anything, and I didn’t get to graduate college because I turned pro a little bit early and had to move on to golf.” A passionate Manchester United fan, as a child he wanted to be the next George Best, but discovered golf at the age of eight, and enjoyed that he could go and practice alone. Of his long-term prospects, McDowell says “golf is one of those sports that, as long as you stay healthy, you can be successful until you’re 40′s, 50′s, even your 60′s! Look at a sport like tennis, these guys are beat up by the time they’re 30 years old. Same with football. We’re very lucky that we have a sport where I can play well into my 50′s, as long as I’m healthy.”
From: Northern Ireland
Winner of the 2010 US Open, and the player to hole the winning putt at Celtic Manor in 2010, Graeme McDowell – fondly known as GMac to his army of fans - received an honorary doctorate from the University of Ulster last year for his services to golf “even though I didn’t really do anything, and I didn’t get to graduate college because I turned pro a little bit early and had to move on to golf.” A passionate Manchester United fan, as a child he wanted to be the next George Best, but discovered golf at the age of eight, and enjoyed that he could go and practice alone. Of his long-term prospects, McDowell says “golf is one of those sports that, as long as you stay healthy, you can be successful until you’re 40′s, 50′s, even your 60′s! Look at a sport like tennis, these guys are beat up by the time they’re 30 years old. Same with football. We’re very lucky that we have a sport where I can play well into my 50′s, as long as I’m healthy.”