McDowell stands back to admire master

There cannot be many upsides to finishing 36 holes six shots worse behind one’s playing partner, but after two days of watching Tiger Woods give a links masterclass at Muirfield, Graeme McDowell can stop admiring the world number one and start playing some golf of his own.

Three-time Open champion Woods will start today’s third round at two under par and in a prime position to stamp his authority on the leaderboard and take a giant step towards ending his five-year drought without a major victory.

And if that happens, no-one will be less surprised than McDowell, who stands at four over par but enjoyed every minute of his two rounds in Woods’s company.