McDowell quickly silences questions over new equipment

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McDowell kicked off his season with a third-place finish at the Hyundai.

It was the golf ball that got his attention.

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Impressive. One that would take him to the next level.

And the clubs? Well, after a closing 62 at Kapalua Sunday afternoon, you can't really have many questions, can you?

Yes, Graeme McDowell left some folks scratching their heads when he decided to make an equipment change, jumping from Callaway to Srixon. The talking heads wondered if he would be the latest victim of change. The blogs wagged fingers.

McDowell just pressed on and played golf. Played it well enough to come within one final putt of making the playoff at the Hyundai Tournament of Champions. Played it well enough to keep all those blogs and shows and tweeps buzzing, too.

About how close he is to catching Phil Mickelson for No. 4 in the Official World Golf Ranking. About chasing world No. 1 Lee Westwood. About how a guy with an unorthodox swing, a throwback fashion sense and a gift of gab has us wrapped around his little finger.

He has a future date with the Queen -- his mum and dad in tow -- at Buckingham Palace for tea and crumpets. The title of Member of the British Empire. A place on, not just the major short list, but everyone's short list. An unflappable belief in himself. A comfort zone that dovetails perfectly with the ridiculously impressive run of golf that's so not ready to end.

"It's a pretty cool title, I know that,'' he said. "G-Mac, MBE sounds kind of cool.''

So did that 62. And the decision to leave Callaway.

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Was it more than just the ball? Sure. Contracts always are. They're about money -- G-Mac's deal is reported to be in the $3 million/year range -- and options and, of course, equipment. Phil Mickelson and Ernie Els are Callaway's staff anchors. Tiger Woods equals Nike. Now, with Jim Furyk sliding to TaylorMade, it's G-Mac and Srixon.

Bottom line is he and Callaway couldn't work it out. Srixon could.

G-Mac gets to keep his Cleveland wedges in the bag -- the same ones he used in college. And last week proved he can play with the clubs.

He swore he wouldn't make the move if he wasn't confident in the equipment. But those head shakers had heard that before.

Remember Mickelson's move from Ping to Yonex in the early 1990s? Or Steve Stricker's struggles in the mid 1990s? Or the late Payne Stewart's slide from Wilson to Spalding after winning a U.S. Open and a PGA? Or Nick Price from Ram to Atrigon? Trouble, on all counts. Slip-slides. Changes that led to more changes, which had little to do with money, more to do with not winning. Oddly -- or maybe not -- this month's Golf Digest has a list of the top-five equipment-switch mistakes of all time.

Would G-Mac, folks wondered, be No. 6?

We understand the questions. We know that it's often about the money. We know, too, that sometimes the clubs just don't fit the player. But we also it's hard to go too wrong with equipment these days. Especially at this level. Everyone tweaks. Everyone tries new things. Everyone adapts.

And, honestly, the best players in the game should be the best no matter what. Hand forged irons, persimmon woods and 1970s golf balls to an entire field and we'll bet the best players still finish in the top 10.

As G-Mac tweeted, "I'm hoping that 2010 was more about the Indian than the arrow!!!!!!!''

So far, so good. He's picked up where he left off in 2010 -- muscling his way up the Official World Ranking points list. He's silenced the change critics and, honestly, has us wanting to see more.

He's a must-interview everywhere. A must-follow on Twitter. He's comfortable in his new-look golf togs, his ECCO shoes -- he likes the classic line, as opposed to Fred Couples' penchant for the street line -- and his retro cardigans. He's gone mainstream, too, with a tie loosened in photographer Kevin Abosch's Faces of Ireland exhibition -- which also features portraits of Sinead O'Connor, actress Sarah Bolger and director Neil Jordan.

Yes, G-Mac will take a break from the PGA TOUR for a while. After a stop in Orlando, he'll tee it up in Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championships next week, halfway around the world. There he'll, no doubt, take a lot of ribbing over his new MBE status from buddies like Westwood and Rory McIlroy and, even though he missed the cut last year, he'll be on the short list of favorites.

Someone will ask about the equipment change, but most will just wonder about this massive run of great golf. And whether he's set up tea with the Queen. But mostly whether he'll fly past Mickelson to No. 4.

Melanie Hauser is a columnist for PGATOUR.COM and can be reached at melaniehauser@gmail.com. Her views do not necessarily represent the views of the PGA TOUR.