Philip Reidtalks to the Ulsterman, who believes he has stated his case that he has got the game to do things

AS HE put it himself, Graeme McDowell crept in "a little under the radar" - certainly as far as the Americans were concerned - for his rookie Ryder Cup. He won't require such stealth again. Yesterday, the 29-year-old Ulsterman left downtown Louisville physically the same man who arrived a week ago but mentally a much tougher one.

"I'm going to be a different man. I've given myself something to feed off for the future," admitted McDowell, adding: "When it comes to Sunday afternoons at majors I'll be able to look back and take a lot of encouragement from the way I've played."

McDowell secured two and a half points from four matches, including a singles win over Stewart Cink on Sunday. This Ryder Cup could, indeed, be the making of McDowell. Sometimes, you learn more from defeat than from victory. Sometimes, the hard knocks are what make you tougher. And, although he is entered in this week's British Masters at the Belfry, he claimed to be only "50-50" about actually playing, planning to make a decision tomorrow based on how he feels.

"I'm going to take a little bit of reflection the next few days. I haven't been able to think straight for the past six or seven weeks because I've been so focused on the Ryder Cup. I'm happy with how I played, but there is definitely plenty of closure. We haven't won. It's over. It's done. From that point of view, it is going to be easier to move on than it would have been if we were revelling in the win."

McDowell, in fact, plans a fairly hectic schedule in the coming weeks as he hones in the European Tour order of merit. Currently, McDowell is sixth on the money list - which is headed by Pádraig Harrington, who is planning a much lighter end-of-season run - and he is due to play the British Masters (maybe!), Dunhill Links, Portugal Masters, Mediterranean Masters and Volvo Masters in his quest to challenge for that title.

"I think I'll learn a lot from these last three days," said McDowell. "I'm going to be feeding off the way I handled myself. I'm looking forward to big tournaments, looking to the majors. I showed the golfing world I have a little bit extra in there. I have a lot of heart when it comes to the game. I've earned a lot of respect from my American peers that I've played against.

"When it comes to teeing it up against a Furyk or a Mickelson or a Perry down the stretch on a Sunday afternoon, I've stated my case that I have got the game to do things. There is no doubt this Ryder Cup will make me a better player going forward . . . it's huge to know that your golf swing can stand up to the ultimate pressure and there is no doubt that is Ryder Cup golf. It is under-the-microscope golf, there's not a shot that's not under scrutiny."

McDowell was positioned in the number nine singles match on Sunday. "I was hoping I was going to be needed, was really hoping I was going to be needed. But I discovered on the 16th fairway I wasn't, and that was a deflation.

"Nick's obviously going to be criticised about the way he put his team out, but I felt we were strong up front, strong at the rear. We weren't trying to hide anybody. We all sat down as a team and picked the line-up together. You stack the front, and stack the rear. What is the strategy. Who knows? Captains live and die by their decisions. He could have been a hero. He's going to be the villain, but unnecessarily."

One thing is for sure, McDowell plans to make it back onto the team for the next edition of the match in Celtic Manor in 2010. "Win, lose or draw here, I was always going to be right up for Wales," he said.

For sure, that's what you'd expect from a player who seems to be growing in stature with each passing day.