McDowell enjoying exalted company

GRAEME McDOWELL finds it “surreal” to think that he has outstripped Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson in the world rankings.

But when he tees it up in the first round of the WGC-Cadillac Championship at Doral’s TPC Blue Monster track today, the 31-year-old world number four will be determined to show just why he is a legitimate contender for the honorary title of the game’s hottest player.

The reigning US Open champion is very much the junior partner in a stellar three ball featuring 14-time major winner Woods and left-handerMickelson, who captured his fourth major at Augusta National almost a year ago.