The USPGA Championship, Whistling Straits, 12-15 August
Coverage: Live on Sky Sports, live text commentary on BBC Sport website, with updates on BBC Radio 5 live

Graeme McDowell won the US Open title in June

US Open champion Graeme McDowell says he is happy to be back in the United States to compete in the season's final major, the USPGA, this week.

McDowell says he is revelling in the calmer surroundings of Whistling Straits after the celebrations that followed his US Open triumph.

"Getting out of the British Isles has been a big help because it's taken the focus off me a little," said McDowell.

"I felt like a bit of a weight came off my shoulders when I arrived."

The forecast of wild weather this weekend has also helped McDowell's confidence.

The Portrush player was one of the few players able to master tricky wind conditions at Pebble Beach and expects many players could struggle if the wind blows in Wisconsin this weekend.

"You have to drive your ball extremely well around here or you're in big trouble, simple as that," he said.

Obviously I'm a little more recognised than maybe the last time I was here and it's been an amazing response from the people Graeme McDowell

"I've been hitting it really well in practice so the golf course felt kind of playable at times, but you can see if you get out of position on this golf course, you're in a world of pain, no doubt about it."

By his own admission, McDowell celebrated well after his surprise major win at Pebble Beach but his feet are now firmly back on the ground.

"It was pretty busy back home - The Scottish Open, British Open and Irish Open were busy weeks as you can imagine.

"It's been great to get back to the States. Obviously I'm a little more recognised than maybe the last time I was here and it's been an amazing response from the people."

McDowell finished tied 23rd at last month's British Open at St Andrews but admits he was struggling to concentrate so soon after his breakthrough win at Pebble Beach.

"The (British) Open did come too early for me, no doubt about it - I was still on an unbelievable high after Pebble.

"It was very difficult to come down because everybody was reminding me of it.

"The Open was the first time I had seen the stateside players and everyone was there, spectators, reminding me of it."

McDowell will play with fellow major winners Phil Mickelson and Louis Oosthuizen in the opening two rounds of the US PGA.

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