McDowell reveals number one priority

Graeme McDowell is intent on finishing this season as Europe’s number one golfer.

McDowell shook off much of the rust from last week’s disappointing finish in the BMW Masters to be a lot sharper after day one of the WGC–HSBC Champions also in Shanghai. The former US Open champion signed off for a three under par 69 to be trailing just four shots behind another former US Open winner, his fellow Irishman Rory McIlroy.

McIlroy’s seven under par 65 for his two-shot lead over past Irish Open winner Jamie Donaldson and Spain’s Gonzalo Fernandez-Castano is the first time he’s led a first round of any tournament by himself since shooting a similar 65 to lead by three shots the first day of the 2011 US Open at Congressional. But while McIlroy sets his sights again on ending a near 12-month winless drought, McDowell is still very much intent on ending his season as Europe’s number one-ranked golfer.