Hot property Graeme McDowell has dropped a bombshell by announcing his decision to turn pro this summer.

The 22 year old Walker Cup hero from Portrush was regarded as a certainty to lead Ireland's first ever bid for the amateur world cup - the Eisenhower Trophy - in Malaysia in late October.

But Ireland will have to do without their star as McDowell's sensational form on the US Collegiate circuit has convinced him to head for the paid ranks several months earlier than expected.

He said: "I'm having such a good year in college that I just seemed like the right time. These are just initial thoughts but I plan to pro in mid-July, I've been thinking about it the last couple of months.

"I have this weird feeling of relaxation in tournaments now and it doesn't matter where I am, whether I am two or three back or whatever, I think I can win.

"I'm really thinking about what's best for my game and mid-July at the very latest looks the best date to turn pro. It just depends on whether I can get some starts in European Tour events."

McDowell has had an incredible season for the University of Alabama, winning five individual titles and moving up to second in the prestigious GolfWeek rankings with a stroke average of 69.77.

His great run started with a win in Japan last September, followed by the Louisiana Intercollegiate title in October. Then he came out with all guns blazing in the new year, winning the Gator Invitational in February followed by the Seminole Intercollegiate and the Conrad Rehling Alabama Invite in March.

With his confidence sky high, McDowell feels the time is right for a move into the paid ranks alongside Walker Cup team mates Luke Donald, Nick Dougherty and Richard McEvoy

"I'm close to 52 under par on the year for 30 rounds. I think I've averaged double figures under par in five or six 54-hole tournaments. My confidence is good and I know when I tee it up that I can do some damage," he revealed.

McDowell partnered Michael Hoey to two foursomes wins in the Walker Cup in Georgia last year, as Great Britain and Ireland beat the US away from home for the first time to retain the trophy.

Donald, Dougherty and McEvoy all turned pro straight after the event while Hoey has decided to wait until after his appearance this week's US Masters. Now McDowell is champing at the bit to join them ­ leaving a Great Britain and Ireland captain Garth McGimpsey with a vacancy in his squad for the St Andrews Trophy in Lausanne in August and for the Walker Cup at Ganton next year.

His first event as a professional looks likely to come just after the Palmer Cup at Doonbeg. All going well, McDowell then plans to make Europe his base for the first few years of his career.

He added: "I'm thinking of coming home just to find my feet and then maybe come back to the US. "I'm in my last semester at college here and I'll be finished up at the beginning on June with a degree in economics. Then I've got an exemption into final qualifying for the British Open through the Walker Cup and so I'll probably turn pro after that I think, and hopefully play the British Open."

Before that McDowell hopes to lead Alabama in the NCAA finals at the end of May. But if his team fail to qualify for the finals he plans to return home and play in the British Amateur championship at Royal Portcawl.

He added: "I'm hoping to get a few invites for professional events too, such as the Murphy's Irish Open and the Smurfit European Open, but I'm still not 100 hundred percent sure on the decision. That's the kind of thing I'm trying to work on now."

McDowell is also in demand for the prestigious Palmer Cup at Greg Norman's spectacular new links course at Doonbeg in July.

The Walker Cup style match pits the top college golfers from the US against the best of Great Britain and Ireland from July 8 - 12. And the organisers want star turn McDowell in the Great Britain and Ireland team for an event clashes with the championship he most wants to win ­ the North of Ireland championship at Royal Portrush.

McDowell said: "The Palmer Cup is one of the things I've been thinking about too. The organisers say they are keen to have me there on the team and I'm sure that it's going to be a fun tournament.

"It's a pity that it clashes with the North. It will be disappointing not to be there at Portrush because it's certainly a championship that's close to my heart and one that I'd love to win but you can't do everything unfortunately."

Agents are already queuing up to sign the affable 22-year-old Ulster lad to their books He admitted: "I've been talking to a few management companies, just checking things out, seeing what's going on, what's out there for me. But I haven't made any decisions. I'm still in college and I just want to concentrate on the rest of the semester really.

"It's nice to have a college degree behind me. I really feel that I have matured a lot. I've changed a lot on and off the course. I'm much more relaxed and confident and I believe in my game a lot more. McDowell's final decision is likely to come soon although he feels obliged to officially inform the Golfing Union of Ireland before making his official decision.

He said: "The GUI have been great. With all the international experience that you gain at all levels from boys to senior it prepares you for competitive golf anywhere in the world and makes you a better person because of it." Amateur golf's loss looks likely being a major gain for the European Tour.

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© Brian Keogh 2002

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