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McDowell makes US Open

05/06/2006

Northern Ireland's Graeme McDowell was among eight players to qualify for next week's US Open at Winged Foot.

McDowell finished second in a qualifying event at Walton Heath to secure his place at the second major of the year.

The Ulsterman admitted that he was delighted to have made it through to the tournament, having missed out on the US Masters at Augusta earlier this year.

"I sat out the Masters in April and didn't enjoy it as I was getting comfortable in the majors and I don't want to watch them on television," McDowell said.

"I didn't know whether to be aggressive or defensive today and I just had to go with my gut instinct but now I'll give it my best shot."

Also through from the qualifying event are Englishmen Oliver Wilson and Phillip Archer.

Dutchman Maarten Lafeber won the event, while there were also places at Winged Foot for Australian duo Richard Green and Graeme Storm and Indian pair Jeev Milkha Singh and Jyoti Randhawa.

All eight will be hoping to follow in New Zealander Michael Campbell's footsteps by winning the US Open having qualified from the Walton Heath event.

Meanwhile, American teenager Michelle Wie needs to make up four shots on leader Kevin Stadler if she wants to become the first woman to qualify for the men's US Open.

The 16-year-old is competing in New Jersey at the Canoe Brook qualifying event but she currently lies in joint 13th place.

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