Graeme 'GMac' McDowell, who admitted to having spent most of the last three weeks basking in celebration, is wary of the dangers becoming a Major winner brings.

The Northern Irish golfer, who won the US Open at Pebble Beach, California recently, said that: "I'm very aware of the pitfalls, complacency, expectation levels, trying to change my game now that I'm a major champion; there's all kinds of mistakes that guys have made in the past.

"I know plenty of the guys well enough, Ernie and Pádraig and guys like that, to be able to seek them out in the next few months to have some dinner with them and chat with them and understand how they have dealt with it in the past.

"I've got a great team of people working with me and I believe they'll not let me make the mistakes that will drag me down.

"I certainly hope I can take confidence and belief away from Pebble Beach.

The golfer also said that he was considering making some amendments to his carefully planned schedule, but added that at 30, soon to be 31, he felt like he still had his best playing days ahead of him.

Three other Northern Irish golfers take the field at St Andrews in 2010: Rory McIlroy, Darren Clarke and Gareth Maybin.

Of McIlroy, who currently leads the pack, he said: "Rory is a very experienced young man for a 21-year-old," adding: "I know he came here on Thursday and Friday last week and spent the last four days back in Northern Ireland playing at Royal County Down and Portrush.

"He's been on the big stage before, I don't think there's any risk he'll get overexcited. I really think Rory has a great chance this week.

"I think he loves this golf course, he's got a pretty mature head on young shoulders and he's got the game to do it."

He also said that he'd been amazed by the response he'd received from other professional golfers in the wake of his victory: "The response I've had via email, voicemail, text, website ... from all kinds of players has been just amazing," McDowell said.

"All the players coming up to me from both sides of the Atlantic have been really happy for me, using words like 'unbelievable' and 'amazing', asking me has it sunk in yet?

"It really hasn't, it's been a surreal few weeks. It's tough to pick out letters and emails from people -- Arnold Palmer, Peter Alliss, legends of the game," added McDowell.

"I feel privileged to have had the opportunity to be able to enjoy my first major championship and everything that goes with it."