G-Mac comes into his own

Graeme McDowell came off best in a brutal battle with the wind-lashed Blue Monster on a day of total carnage in the WGC-Cadillac Championship.

The Portrush battler chiselled out an incredible, one-under 71 — the joint best round of the earlier finishers — to move into a provisional share of second with Francesco Molinari (75) on level par, just a shot behind leader Patrick Reed (75).

The revamped Blue Monster was taking its toll on 49 of the world’s top 50 with the world’s top three of Tiger Woods (73), Adam Scott (73) and Henrik Stenson (76) a combined 14 over for the tournament after the second day.