FORMER US Open, Scottish Open and double French Open champion Graeme McDowell believes he's found out how to unlock the secrets of the little-known Chambers Bay course and venue for next week's US Open.
Just a handful of players who will tee-up in Washington State have any knowledge of the the course headed by American Peter Uihlein - who captured the 2015 US Amateur championship on the suburban Tacoma layout.
Current Masters champion Jordan Spieth competed in the 2010 US Amateur Open on the course aged 16, but shot a second round 83 to miss the Chambers Bay cut by six shots. Spieth afterwards remarked: "The course was ridiculously difficult".
However McDowell, as winner in 2010 at Pebble Beach, hopes he's onto a repeat winner in talking with Chambers Bay course designer, Robert Trent Jones Jnr, who designed the course in 2007 along Pugent Sound.
"One of my business partners is into golf-course development and knows Robert Trent Jones Jnr well, who designed Chambers Bay, and has offered up some time for me to meet with him and hopefully solve the Chambers Bay puzzle," said McDowell ahead of teeing up at this week's PGA Tour stop in Memphis.
"I was hoping to walk the course with him but I didn't have the time as I decided to compete this week in Memphis but I feel it can only be beneficial in speaking with him before we actually tee-up in the U.S. Open.
"By the sound of things Chambers Bay is a lengthy understanding process and chatting with Robert may help unlock some of the course's secrets."
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