G-Mac happy to steer clear of pal Lowry

Graeme McDowell has expressed his delight this week’s historic Volvo World Match-Play Championship in Bulgaria won’t see a repeat of Ireland’s Arizona anguish.

The WGC–Accenture Match-Play Championship earlier this year saw Ireland’s four competitors — Rory McIlroy, Shane Lowry, Pádraig Harrington and McDowell — all bracketed in the same group.

Lowry shocked the golf world in defeating McIlroy in the opener while McDowell accounted for Harrington before he then bundled Lowry out in the third round.