Graeme McDowell has become a household name in America thanks to his sensational US Open victory.

McDowell is the first European to win the U.S. Open since Tony Jacklin did it in 1970. A fact the American press was keen on relating.

America being a country that loves winners as much as it loves their St Patrick’s Day parades, welcomed the Northern Ireland native.

McDowell shared the front page spotlight with Kaka on The New York Times. His write up was generous and even forgiving at some his rounds’ low points. McDowell was compared to American greats such as Ernie Els, Tiger Woods, and Phil Mickelson in a rather complimentary light (a surprising thing to see when an American does not come in first place).

The Washington Post even supplied some Northern Ireland pride by having a picture of McDowell caressing his trophy at the bottom of the front page. The Washington Post had a deeper explanation of McDowell’s win, explaining where he went wrong and what he did right.

The Herald (Pebble Beach’s local newspaper) was perhaps the most adoring of our home boy hero. McDowell was referred to as a “gentleman from Northern Ireland” for his modest celebrations and his child-like giddiness during interviews.

He has been making the most of his overnight fame. McDowell has turned down famous late night presenter David Letterman for an even better known, bigger-chinned presenter, Jay Leno.

A total of $7,500,000 was up for grabs for any golfer that made the pay cut. Graeme McDowell walked away with $1,350,000...or as many first class flights to America to work on his accent as he wants.