lash back four months, to the first major championship of the year. As Tiger Woods embarked on his much-anticipated return to golf at the Masters, Graeme McDowell and Louis Oosthuizen roamed Augusta National in familiar anonymity. McDowell shot 75-74 and missed the cut. Oosthuizen shot 75-77 and missed the cut. Few people noticed. Fast forward to the final major of the year this week at Whistling Straits. Woods still commands most of the attention - funny how that happens with 14 major titles, a salacious scandal and startling slump on the course - but McDowell and Oosthuizen no longer wade in obscurity. Fans routinely offered congratulations as McDowell and Oosthuizen played practice rounds the past two days. Instead of inspiring quizzical looks from the galleries, McDowell now hears muffled whispers of, "Hey, he's the guy who won the U.S. Open." Oosthuizen hears similar references to his British Open victory. The trip from unknown to major champion has never been quicker. Read more: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2010/08/11/SP8E1ESE5D.DTL#ixzz0wPWzMOCQ
