Ilonen too hot for McDowell

Defending champion Graeme McDowell suffered just his third ever defeat in the Volvo World Match Play Championship yesterday, as Ryder Cup team-mate Stephen Gallacher’s singles losing streak reached double figures.

McDowell reached the quarter-finals of this event on his debut in 2011, the final in 2012 and won the title last year, while his victory over Alexander Levy in the opening group match on Wednesday made for an overall record of 15 wins from 17 matches.

However, the former US Open champion found Mikko Ilonen in brilliant form at The London Club, the Finn carding seven birdies to hold off a determined McDowell fightback and secure a 2&1 win.