McDowell has extra special reason to do well in Dubai

Graeme McDowell is not only fighting Henrik Stenson for the European number one title, but he is equally determined to unseat the Swede to be voted European Tour ‘Player of the Year’.

While McDowell won three times prior to the British Open, Stenson has easily been the best performing player since finishing runner-up at Muirfield.

The Swede was also third in the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational, runner-up in the following week’s PGA Championship and then proceeded to capture the Deutsche Bank Championship and seal the FedEx Cup trophy by winning the Tour Championship in Atlanta. However, the Swede’s two victories that led to FedEx Cup glory were on the PGA Tour and it is McDowell’s goal this week not only to overtake Stenson in the sprint to the Race to Dubai final ribbon but also seal ‘European Player of the Year’ honours.