Family, friends and colleagues answer the question – “Who is Graeme McDowell?”
ORLANDO, Fla., June 6, 2011 – Northern Ireland’s Graeme McDowell burst onto the world golf scene in 2010 with his win at the U.S. Open at Pebble Beach Golf Links, his first major championship victory and only the second European in 85 years to accomplish the feat. On the eve of his U.S. Open title defense, Golf Channel will go behind-the-scenes of McDowell’s whirlwind 2010-11 season to chronicle the life and career of Northern Ireland’s native son in a special presentation, Being Graeme McDowell, premiering Tuesday at 9 p.m. ET.
Beloved in Ireland and throughout Europe, McDowell has been a member of the European Tour since 2002 and was a relative unknown to American golf fans prior to his U.S. Open victory. His U.S. Open win was a part of several accomplishments in 2010: he secured a Ryder Cup victory for Team Europe at Celtic Manor and recorded three professional victories, including beating Tiger Woods in a playoff at the Chevron World Challenge.
DEVOTED FAMILY MAN AND PROUD IRISHMAN: Members of McDowell’s extended family from Northern Ireland will take part in the special, including his father, Kenny McDowell, who was in attendance at Pebble Beach for his son’s U.S. Open victory on Father’s Day. The special also will delve into McDowell’s rise in amateur and professional golf in Europe, including a heartwarming story following his first professional victory on the European Tour in 2002.
NEW-FOUND FAME: In 2010, McDowell achieved his biggest success as a professional – four victories, playing a pivotal role for Team Europe at the Ryder Cup and sharing the European Tour Golfer of the Year award with Martin Kaymer. The special will feature footage of McDowell and his father watching the U.S. Open on television for the first time en-route to Ireland following the tournament, humorous footage while traveling with the U.S. Open trophy throughout the United Kingdom, and a behind-the-scenes tour of his new home in Orlando, Fla.
NEW INTERVIEWS WITH MCDOWELL’S PEERS AND LEGENDS OF THE GAME: Being Graeme McDowell also will feature fresh interviews with McDowell’s peers, colleagues and legends of the game, including fellow Irishman and Golf Channel/CBS Sports analyst David Feherty, and Hall-of-Famers Nick Faldo and Tom Watson.
Being Graeme McDowell premieres Tuesday at 9 p.m. ET and will re-air at 9:30 p.m. ET, Wednesday at midnight ET and 12:30 a.m. ET and Saturday at 11:30 a.m. ET.
Contact:
Dan Higgins
Golf Channel Public Relations
407-355-4018
dhiggins@golfchannel.com
Jeremy Friedman
Golf Channel Public Relations
407-355-4058
jfriedman@golfchannel.com
