When Graeme McDowell hoisted the U.S. Open championship trophy on Monday, he was not only lifting the silver trophy itself: he was hoisting a small country’s golf tradition with it.
McDowell, age 30, plays out of Northern Ireland, the tiny six county state of around 1.8 million people. Northern Ireland is one of the four states composing the United Kingdom and is divided from the rest of Ireland by a political border and years of conflict.
But the tiny country is also something of a haven for golfing, with over 80 golf courses and a long history of golf.
First Northern Ireland golfer to win since 1947
McDowell, who hails from Country Antrim, was the first Northern Irish golfer to win a major since 1947, when Fred Daly managed to do so. He eked out a victory over Gregory Havret by a single shot, and spoke highly of Havret after the tournament.
“It's so difficult to win a golf tournament, let alone a major championship and great playing from Greg today,” said McDowell. "You know, he played fantastic golf the last couple of days and I'm just so thrilled to get over the line."
The victory has drawn all kinds of accolades and pride for the leaders of Northern Ireland. The prime minister praised McDowell, calling his victory an “outstanding achievement.”
He wasn’t nearly alone, with Northern Irish MPs brimming to congratulate McDowell. One MP, Gregory Campbell, went so far as to even table a motion to celebrate his achievement.
"Northern Ireland now boasts three of the best golfers in the world in Rory McIlroy, Darren Clarke and current US Open champion Graeme McDowell which is a tremendous success here, given the size of Northern Ireland. I have tabled a motion in the House of Commons noting the outstanding achievement of Graeme McDowell and for Northern Ireland a country of its size having three of the world's best golfers,” said Campbell.
A Troubled History
The history of golf in Northern Ireland plays tightly within their country’s politics. Golf was first developed in Scotland in the 12th century, and the highland nation became a cradle for the game. However, it’s eventual transferral to Northern Ireland was probably inevitable. The English sent over Scottish Protestants to attempt to gain loyal agents in the North of Ireland, which was inhabited by Irish Catholics. With them they kept a fierce sense of Scottish-British identity, part of which involved the rapid expansion of golf.
Golf continued to be a firm sign of the Protestant ascendancy, with Catholics being all but banned from most golf courses after Northern Ireland became its own state after the First World War.
Ireland’s Golf Explosion
While economic difficulties and huge sectarian violence plagued the country until just over a decade ago, the peace process has caused a huge upswing in Irish golf culture in the past decade.
Kevin Whitson, a Northern Irish professional golfer, told Golf Europe about the expansion.
“We’re getting there. People are seeing that we have a great golf product with County Down and Portrush, arguably the two best links courses in http://www.golfeurope.com/clubs/castlerock/index.htm, it's a destination that's only going to grow," said Whitson.
With this victory, McDowell finds himself being cheered for and congratulated by Protestant and Catholic politicians alike, yet another sign of hope for the six-county nation. As for McDowell, he was also the first European in 40 years to win the U.S. Open, but that’s not what’s on his mind for now.
“I am just so thrilled to get over the line,” McDowell said. “I can’t believe I’m standing here looking at this trophy. It is absolutely a dream come true.”
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