McDowell fears for season

While a Rory McIlroy-inspired Shane Lowry muscles his way into contention, Graeme McDowell was lucky he didn’t break his hand on day two of the WGC–HSBC Champions event in Shenzhen.

McDowell was leaving his on-course hotel room but changed his mind, and in grabbing for the door he slammed it on his right hand.

The former US Open immediately sought medical attention and after having the hand heavily strapped, McDowell managed to find his way to the first tee of the Olazabal course.

But while McDowell struggled in shooting a 75 for a two over par tally, playing partner Louis Oosthuizen set a second new Olazabal course record of a blistering nine under par 63 to forge his way to 16-under par and five shots clear of his rivals.

And while Oosthuizen was in high demand for post-round comments, McDowell rushed from the scorer’s hut and straight for a pre-arranged meeting with an on-course doctor who later confirmed McDowell had not broken any bones in his hand.

McDowell’s Horizon Sports manager, Conor Ridge, indicated that McDowell was now in doubt to continue in the $7m event, though the bigger concern was McDowell’s appearance in his final three events of the season.

Ahead for McDowell in coming weeks is teeing-up in next fortnight’s Australian Masters in Melbourne and then the following week’s season-ending Dubai World Championship before competing in the Tiger Woods hosted World Challenge, an event McDowell won in 2010.

“It’s just one of those mishaps than can happen,” said Ridge. “In turning to go back into his room he just grabbed at the door but it snapped shut on his hand. Fortunately, the doctor’s confirmed there are no broken bones but it is pretty swollen.

“So we’ll assess it in the morning but then Graeme’s got a week off and then he’s heading to Melbourne for the Australian Masters.

“He hasn’t competed in Australia for some time, so he’s already looking forward to the event, and then it’s the last European Tour event of the year in Dubai and Tiger’s event.”

While McDowell was in considerable pain there’s no wiping the smile off Lowry’s face after he added a 68 to his opening 69 and move to a share fourth place at 10-under par with American Ryder Cup star Jason Dufner.

Lowry’s already earned in excess of €600,000 in his past two events along with the more important leap to 57th in the World Rankings.

Fourth place at worst this week in Shenzhen would present Lowry with that much sought after top-50 ranking and a start in all four Majors next season.

McIlroy, his management stablemate, was in hot water for skipping this week’s event but Lowry said that even in the absence of the world number one, it is McIlroy who is a constant source of inspiration to the Esker Hills star.

“What Rory has and is achieving just inspires me to play well, and why I would never try to compare myself with Rory because he’s different, I am just striving to be as good as I can,” said Lowry.

“I can compete with him some weeks but when he’s on his A game he’s unbeatable.”

The South African British Open winning duo of Louis Oosthuizen and Ernie Els set a new Olazabal course record on day two of the event of nine under par 63s.

However it is Oosthuizen who heads his rivals by five shots in moving to 16-under par with Els and Australia’s Adam Scott (68) tied in second on 11-under par, and Lowry just one behind.