The Open: Graeme McDowell feels changes needed at Old Course
Sunday 19 July 2015 14:25, UK
Graeme McDowell feels the time has come for changes at the Old Course to allow it to catch up with modern equipment.
The Northern Irishman was one of the early starters in Sunday's third round at the 144th Open, and he endured a rollercoaster 18 holes before completing a two under 70.
McDowell was standing at two under after 54 holes, some way off the pace set by halfway leader Dustin Johnson, and he feels big-hitting players are at a distinct advantage.
His round on Sunday included eight birdies, but McDowell also threw in a pair of bogeys and two doubles, showing the course does at least, at times, have some teeth.
But afterwards, he said: "A lot of the bunkers are not in play any more, when you see the type of power that these guys are kind of using and putting on the golf ball.
"You see an old test like this one and start wondering what they can do with it to keep it up to sort of modern times.
"I don't think you've got to go put a ton of yardage on this golf course. The greens are its protection and unfortunately driving the ball is just too easy this week. I'm hitting driver nearly 14, 15 times out there."
As for his own round, McDowell added: "I played lovely, I really did, but I drove the ball disgusting. I'm not really quite sure what's wrong with my driving, everything else is pretty good.
"That's got to go down as an extremely frustrating and disappointing round, because it was there or thereabouts. It's tough at times but there are signs of life. I've just got to wait, be patient. My time will come."
