G-Mac ready to face Monster

GRAEME McDOWELL is riding such a tidal wave of confidence now that not even the prospect of a four-day battle with the Blue Monster seems like a frightening prospect.

Having come through his battle with The Bear Trap with flying colours and signed off with a course record-equalling 64 to claim a share of sixth place in the Honda Classic on Sunday, the US Open champion tees it up in the $8.5m (€6m) WGC-Cadillac Championship in Miami with high hopes of challenging for his first World Golf Championship title.

Darren Clarke remains the only Irishman to claim one of golf’s WGC crowns, winning the World Match Play title at La Costa in 2000 and the Bridgestone Invitational at Firestone in 2003.