McDowell keen to emulate career of Open champion Pádraig

GRAEME MCDOWELL has revealed that he hopes to emulate the career of Open champion Pádraig Harrington as he seeks a fourth European Tour title at this week’s Volvo China Open.

McDowell arrived in Beijing after claiming his first European Tour title since 2004 at the Ballantine’s Championship in South Korea last month, coming off the back of a consistent run of four top-20 finishes in his previous five tournaments.

Harrington, meanwhile, turned professional in 1995 and improved steadily before two career highlights in 2007 — he was named European Golfer of the Year after victory at Carnoustie last July.

McDowell, who finished second to Markus Brier at last year’s Volvo China Open, admits world number 11 Harrington’s work ethic is something he hopes to replicate as he hunts a second successive victory in Asia.

“That is what I’m progressing towards, a run of form and consistency,” said the 28-year-old from Portrush.

“You only have to look at the likes of Pádraig and see how many times he finished second before he really broke through into the upper echelons of the world rankings.

“He has won a lot of great events around the world now and he got there through hard work and disappointment and he is now one of the best players in the world.

“I look at my career and while it is not quite as long as Pádraig’s, so far it has kind of had the ups and downs his career has maybe had.

“He is someone I have looked towards with his work ethic and the way he goes about things, and he a guy I look towards to try and emulate.”

McDowell’s victory in South Korea makes him one of the favourites to lift the trophy at the Beijing CBD International Golf Club this week.

His task will not be easy with the likes of defending champion Brier and local favourite Liang Wen-chong likely to be challenging come Sunday.

But McDowell insists he is feeling confident as he looks to put himself in the frame for a place on the European Ryder Cup team.

“My game is feeling pretty good,” he added. “I’m coming off the back of a couple of weeks off and I’ve shaken the rust off the last couple of days. I’m getting ready for a pretty big run over the next three or four months.”