Rathmore in full swing as McDowell wins US Open

As Graeme McDowell kept his composure coming down the stretch at Pebble Beach... Jim Blee, the barman at Rathmore Golf Club in Portrush, was busy chilling the champagne. That was of course in between all the Guinness, Bushmills, Gin, Vodka and Rum he was being asked to serve at an alarming rate by the club members...

This would be the mother of all parties. Graeme is idolized at Rathmore Golf Club, and rightly so. From the year he almost made a clean sweep of Irish amateur events, to representing GB&I in The Walker Cup, to winning his first professional tourney, to playing in The Ryder Cup... but a Major Championship? Was he destined to go down in history as the first European golfer to win the US Open in 40 years?

When Havret missed from eight feet at the last, Graeme knew he needed a five to win. Under normal circumstances he would've had a pop at the green in two, but this situation could not be remotely described as 'normal'. After laying up, an approach shot from 99 yards found the middle of the green and left him with the old chestnut of two putts to win. It was cool, controlled golf and decision-making from start to finish.

Back in Rathmore, the drink was going down quicker than it could be bought and poor old Jim was having to translate orders that were being delivered in a very broken, slurred form of the English language. Not that it mattered though because the sense of taste usually disappears around the same time as speech, balance and sight. The roar from this tiny golf club in Portrush may have been heard on the Monterey Peninsula itself.

Graeme was US Open champion, and it was great that his dad Kenny was there to share in the moment with him.  'You're something kid' was the line to his son, and who could disagree. I'm sure Rathmore will enjoy looking after that little silver trinket for the next twelve months, my only worry is that it may be returned to the USGA smelling a little of alcohol (cleaning products of course).

Oh and at Rathmore, the party is still going. It will most likely hit fifth gear when Graeme arrives with his new shiny toy. Does anyone know the number for the Guinness man?

CONGRATULATIONS GRAEME McDOWELL!