Italian job puts McDowell in Ryder Cup contention

GRAEME MCDOWELL ended a two year soul-searching process after clinching a play-off victory in the rain-plagued Italian Open which has catapulted him into Ryder Cup contention.

McDowell captured his second European Tour win at the fourth sudden-death hole when French rival, Thomas Levet, found a water-hazard with his second shot and then conceded to the Portrush golfer when McDowell putted to within a foot.

Both players were among 18 in place on the sodden Castello di Tolcinasco course at 7.30am yesterday morning in readiness to play the last handful of holes of the third and final round.