Graeme McDowell: The Open at Portrush is a dream - as long as I'm playing

The coincidence of the calendar could not be sweeter, but for Graeme McDowell it could turn unpalatably bitter.

This week the 39-year-old Northern Irishman, who was the UK's first winner of a men's major in the 21st century, has another chance to maximise a uniquely enticing summer which is highlighted by majors at Pebble Beach and Portrush.

Back in 2010 McDowell won his US Open at the place he calls "Pebble". Appropriately, it was that gutsiest of wins which reignited the movement to bring July's Open back to Northern Ireland.

Major triumphs for fellow Ulstermen Rory McIlroy and Darren Clarke swiftly followed McDowell's breakthrough. Between them they made it an irresistible argument.

So next month the championship returns to the provinces for the first time in 68 years and will be played at Royal Portrush in McDowell's home town. It is as though the schedulers have tailored the 2019 calendar with one man in mind.

McDowell's 10-year US Open exemption has another 12 months to run, so he can look forward to returning to the scene of his greatest triumph on the Monterey Peninsula the week after next.

But playing the links that inspired his childhood love of the game is more problematic. Ranked 121 in the world, McDowell still has to earn a place in the Portrush field. The thought of missing out is unbearable.

"I'm going to do everything I can to make sure I'm there," McDowell told this week's edition of the BBC golf podcast, The Cut.

"I've already said there is no amount of alcohol that could keep me on the property of Portrush that week if I'm not competing. It would be very bittersweet, shall we say."

There are still 59 spots available for Portrush and on Thursday McDowell will tee off at the Canadian Open where three of those places are available.

"I'm just trying to let it take care of itself," McDowell added. "There are spots up for grabs at the Canadian Open, the US Open, Irish Open and Scottish Open.

"And I'm entered into final qualifying at St Annes Old Links on the Tuesday of the Irish Open as an absolute worse case scenario."