McDowell has Kaymer in his sights

GRAEME McDOWELL is looking to strike a decisive blow in the Race to Dubai this week when he returns to a happy hunting ground at the Singapore Open.

McDowell trails Martin Kaymer by just under €600,000 in the battle for the European Tour’s lucrative end of season title.

After reducing the German’s lead by capturing the Andalucia Valderrama Masters, McDowell was unable to make inroads at last week’s HSBC Champions WGC event in Shanghai, ending one shot behind his rival in 34th.

The 31-year-old Northern Irishman finished in a tie for fifth at last year’s tournament and is confident his game can flourish again at Sentosa Golf Club to exert further pressure on his rival with just two events left before the Dubai World Championship on November 25.

“When I started this five-week run for the Race to Dubai, I targeted this week because I know that I can play well here,” McDowell said. “After my good finish here last year, I thought the golf course here at Sentosa sets up pretty well for me. You’ve got to drive the ball into the fairway and you’ve got to think your way round the golf course a little. Of course, this week is the week which I’ve targeted as an important one in trying to catch Martin and obviously I got off to a great start in Valderrama.

“My goal is to go to Dubai as close as I can possibly be to Martin for the chance to win the Race to Dubai. We were pretty close last week in China but a huge week this week can punch a hole in his lead.”

Kaymer’s tie for 21st in southern Spain handed Lee Westwood the world number one spot and while the 25-year-old is once again looking forward to locking horns with McDowell, he refused to discount the Worksop golfer.

Westwood is third in the rankings in the Race to Dubai but is absent from Singapore due to a long-standing calf issue following his second place in Shanghai.

“Graeme played good golf in Valderrama and he really deserved to win. I played with him on the Thursday and Friday and he played fantastic golf. It would have been a big surprise for me if he had not won there,” said Kaymer.

“But this is what golf is all about – to have the challenge to play against the best players in the world and he is obviously one of them.

“I don’t think we should forget Lee Westwood. He still has a chance because it is a big prize fund in Dubai and anything can happen there. It sounds so simple but I can only take care of my own game.”