“It’s got some of the heaviest links rough I’ve ever seen,” he said. “If you miss it in the wrong place you might want to bring a couple of golf balls with you.

“I certainly lost a couple. Right of the 17th green I’ve never seen rough as thick in all my life. You’ve got to know which side you can miss it on and which you can’t.”

On McDowell’s first visit he played with Rory McIlroy, who gleefully revealed a few weeks ago that he gave his compatriot a hammering.

“Was he bragging?” said McDowell. “He normally turns me over in practice rounds. He’s one of the best Tuesday players I’ve ever played with – he’s pretty good at weekend as well. He put a pretty good display on and took the money. Enough said.”

Colin Montgomerie, who has an academy at the Ayrshire venue, said: “They had a medal there for the members – 150 starters – and they left 480 balls on the course.

“That’s over three a player and it proves that, although the fairways were generous, avoid the rough at all costs.

“It’s a shot-maker’s golf course, a tremendous course. I didn’t lose a ball, which was good, but it can only be worse now than when I played 10 days ago.”

Ernie Els, winner at Muirfield in 2002, added: “I was there for two days and that could be quite a beast if the wind comes up. They must have had a lot of rain – it’s very lush, very green and that’s why the rough is so high.

“You’re probably going to have to have a good game plan, probably play quite safe off the tees to get it in play.

“The secret to playing good links golf is having a good strategy, sticking with that and having a lot of patience. But, more than anything, really striking the ball solidly. If you don’t you’ll get found out. You won’t have much of a chance.”