Graeme McDowell was shopping in Los Angeles with Ian Poulter when he took the call that changed his life.

The Northern Irishman was on a stopover from the World Cup in China when he was invited to play in the Chevron World Challenge in Thousand Oaks, California.

A good 15 to 20 spots from qualifying for the event through the rankings, McDowell benefitted from being in the right place at the right time, and received a sponsors invite to play following the much publicised withdrawal of Tiger Woods.

McDowell finished second that week, was propelled to 38 in the world rankings, and hasn't looked back since. His first major win at the US Open followed, and then came the drama of his putt to win the Ryder Cup earlier this month.

"It's just amazing how small things like that can kind of shape a year," he said. "I look back to probably the Chevron at the end of last year, getting a bit of a break and getting into that event was really the catalyst for what has been an amazing season.

"Finishing second there got me to 38 in the world, got me into the most important events at the start of the season and kind of got me off and running."

McDowell's season has almost come full circle, and he intends to make a statement at the PGA Grand Slam next week by finishing the year as the champion of champions.

"It's certainly one (a season) I'll be looking to back up and take the confidence, momentum away to make me the best player I can be. The Grand Slam, there is going to be an element of fun to it, it's a very elite four-ball, but there will be an element of seriousness as well. I'm looking to make a statement as being the top major champion of this year."

The golf history books are littered with names of one-hit wonders, players who have been plucked from obscurity to win a major, only for the pressure of that win to send them plunging back into darkness. Last year's Grand Slam champion Lucas Glover hasn't won all season, while the likes of Trevor Immelman and Todd Hamilton (remember him?) are rarely heard from.

McDowell is acutley aware of the pitfalls that await in the years and months that follow a season such as his, and is determined not to go the way of his predecessors.

"As far as the way I approach my game, it's very important not to fall into the traps that guys have experienced in years gone past," he said. "I really have to manage the expectation levels, and make sure I continue to realise it's a tough game, and I've got to keep working hard.

"I've not got to rest on my laurels and keep working hard to be the best player I can be. I'm very aware that there are pitfalls out there."

As well as managing the expectations he places upon himself, McDowell has also had to deal with the increased demands that are placed on his time.

"What's been going on in my world in the last six months has certainly increased the demands on my time, no doubt about it. I'm a lot more in the spotlight than I have ever been, so from that point of view I've got to rely on my management team, and the people around me to help prioritise my time, and make sure that when I go to golf tournaments I'm ready to play come Thursday," said McDowell.

"There are a lot more demands on my time off the golf course, for all the right reasons, it's important that I'm ready and I still continue to prepare as well as I ever have, and continue to do the things I have done well to get me here."

Those demands are only likely to increase now that he has opted to play on the PGA Tour next season, and build a house just outside Orlando.

"It's very important to prioritise, to not get sucked into playing too much golf around the world and not beating myself up too much. My scheduling is going to be very, very important to me next year," he said.

"I'll definitely be pinpointing 20 events where I want to be in the best possible shape to compete, and after that, the rest of the season will just kind of fit in around those events.

"So 15 of those events kind of are obvious, the four majors, the WGCs, TPC, Wentworth, the big events; that part of the schedule will be easy. It's just fitting the rest of the stuff in around it. There's no doubt it is a balancing act. You have got to balance your time off and the travel, and it's definitely a very important part of the decision-making process for next season."