McDowell buoyed by 66

GRAEME McDOWELL left Singapore last night bound for the Land of the Rising Sun buoyed by a third and final round 66 for share of 13th place in the rain-affected Barlcays Singapore Open.

Spain’s Gonzalo Fernandez-Castano (72) and Philippines Juvic Pagunsan (67) ended regulation play atop of the board locked at 14-under par. But moments after they returned to play the 18th for a second time, the siren sounded to halt play due to an electrical storm. The duo returned to the course 90 minutes later and after playing their second shots short of the green there was a further lightning stoppage that forced officials to abandon the playoff until today.

McDowell picked off six birdies for his equal second lowest score of the year and pleased in what had been an ‘eventful’ week for the Northern Irishman.

“I’m delighted to finish top-15 as I lost my driver on Wednesday and then Kenny (caddy) feeling sick and then I didn’t feel too well myself on Friday,” he said. “So it was an eventful week but another solid Singapore performance.

“I’m now heading to Japan for the Dunlop Phoenix Open with a nice little bit of momentum after a third at the Dunhill Links and while there was a blimp on the radar at Valderrama, I also had a third last week in Shanghai.

“So my game is there and thereabouts, so I am very happy. I’ve got four great weeks coming up, playing in Japan, the World Cup alongside Rory (McIlroy), Sun City and the Dubai World Championship.

“If I win that would be nice but if I can just keep playing the way I am I will be happy.”

Joining McDowell in the Dunlop Phoenix Open will be fellow Horizon Sports stablemate, Shane Lowry who posted a last day 68 to share 13th place with McDowell. And given Lowry’s now assured of contesting next month’s Dubai World Championship, the

Michael Hoey finished with a 74 for a six-under par tally and a share of 23rd spot, while Peter Lawrie recorded a final round 76 to slump to a share of 75th place. And rookie Paul Cutler is headed to South Africa for the Alfred Dunhill Championship with a first pay cheque in his pocket despite a disappointing last round 78.

*Greg Chalmers won the Australian Open after holding his nerve to finish 13 under par at The Lakes in Sydney.

Former world number one Tiger Woods’ return to form saw him finish third, two shots behind Chalmers.