G-Mac aims to halt Tiger rise

Rory McIlroy’s position at the top of golf’s rankings could well rest in Graeme McDowell’s grasp as he seeks to curb Tiger Woods’ domination of the Arnold Palmer Invitational in Orlando.

An eighth Woods victory would not only match a PGA Tour record set by the late Sam Snead but send Woods back to the summit of the world rankings for the first time since October 30, 2010.

This week marks McDowell’s sixth appearance in the €4.8m event and twice, on debut in 2005 and last year, the portrush man has finished runner-up.

“I know that if I am to win this week, and if I am to win more Majors, you have to get comfortable around players like Tiger,” said McDowell.

“I’ve got to know him and I feel very comfortable around him. I played well enough to beat him earlier this month in Doral but it’s just that my putter slowed me down on the weekend.

“So I am feeling that my game is well enough that if the situation arises again I can compete with him.”

The absence of McIlroy this week has drawn further comment from the 83-year-old tournament host, Arnold Palmer.

“I sort of threw a casual fun comment at him, and I was kidding when I said, well if he doesn’t play, I’m going to break his arm,” said Palmer.

“But it was meant in jest, and it was strictly a passing remark. Frankly, I thought he was going to play, and I was surprised, as a lot of people were, when he decided he was not going to play. So for some reason I got it in my mind that he would be playing, but that, obviously, is wrong.

“What his reason or reasoning is, I don’t know, and I’m not going to worry about it.”