英语听力精选进阶版 6226（在线收听）

McDowell's Historic Win for Europe 麦克道尔取得历史性胜利

On Sunday night Graeme McDowell became the first European to win the US Open in 40 years.

The US Open is one of the four golf majors and is a highlight in the sporting calendar.

The 30-year-old from Northern Ireland beat off golf heavyweights Tiger Woods, Phil Mickleson and Ernie Els to clinch the prestigious title. On the final day of the week-long competition, McDowell held off the challenge from France's Gregory Havret to win by one shot.

Graeme has been playing professionally since 2002 and said "It's an absolute dream come true, I've dreamed about this all my life."

It's hard to believe that two months ago Graeme was in danger of not qualifying for the competition, but a win at the Wales Open secured his place at the major.

Tiger Woods had previously won the competition three times and after a good third round Tiger looked in with a chance of a fourth win. But after five months away from the game under an intense media spotlight, following a scandal in his private life, the A-list golfer could not muster up enough confidence to be triumphant.

From winning the title, Graeme not only gains a tidy sum of money but also jumps from 37th to 13th in the golf world rankings.

However, despite earning a lucrative salary every year, Graeme is still firmly rooted in his home town of Portrush on the north coast of Northern Ireland.

He admits that professional golfers can lead very lavish lifestyles and that you can become "blasé" about it. However he says that is why his home town is very important to him and is what keeps him "grounded".

So where to celebrate his historic victory? Portrush of course!

Graeme says he will be joining his friends at home for a pint of the traditional Irish black beer, Guinness.

Glossary 词汇表

majors 重要赛事 

the sporting calendar 体育运动日程表 

heavyweights 重量级人物 

clinch 抓住、赢得 

prestigious 声望很高的 

held off the challenge 赢得挑战 

dream come true 梦想成真 

intense media spotlight 大量媒体聚光灯 

scandal 丑闻 

muster up 鼓起（勇气） 

to be triumphant 获胜 

tidy sum 一大笔奖金 

rankings 排名

lucrative 赚钱的，获利的 

firmly rooted 深深扎根于 

lavish lifestyles 奢侈的生活 

blasé 厌烦享乐的 

grounded 低调的 

historic victory 历史性的胜利 

Guinness 健力士啤酒 （爱尔兰特产）