Read more about Golf.
McIlroy the man - McDowell
Golf, 17:49, July 12, 2010 ,
US Open winner Graeme McDowell feels Rory McIlroy could have a say in proceedings at the Open Championship this week.
McDowell became the first winner of the US Open for 40 years when he claimed the title at Pebble Beach a few weeks ago and he will be gunning for further glory at St Andrews on Thursday.
But the 30-year-old has tipped his fellow Northern Irishman McIlroy as the man to beat at the home of golf, as he has a good record on the Old Course and is hungry for success on the biggest stage.
"He is definitely pumped up - he loves St Andrews, has played well there and is a pretty good links player," he said. "If I was going to have a bet, he might be the one I would put my money on."
McIlroy, who finished third in his second European Tour event, the 2007 Dunhill Links Championship at St Andrews, is a big fan of the famous venue, and he will play with American Lucas Glover and South Africa's Tim Clark in his first two rounds - teeing off at 8:20am on Thursday and then 1:31pm on day two.