G-Mac ready for desert duel

A REMARKABLE year could get even better this weekend as Graeme McDowell bids to claim the Race to Dubai and become the European Tour’s number one player.

McDowell will tee off at the Dubai World Championship on Thursday a little more than €290,000 behind current Race to Dubai leader and fellow 2010 major winner Martin Kaymer of Germany, and the prospect of the Portrush man scooping the ultimate prize in European golf is dizzying for even his management team.

“It would be fantastic if he won in Dubai but in a way it would almost be a letdown if he didn’t win the Race To Dubai, given the year that he’s had,” Colin Morrissey of Horizon Sports Management said.