Graeme McDowell faces battle to be fit for Masters

Graeme McDowell remains confident of taking his place in next fortnight’s Masters despite withdrawing with a lower left ankle injury after nine holes of the Valero Texas Open.

McDowell was clearly struggling with the injury to be five over par in the bright but very windy conditions on the TPC San Antonio course. The former U.S. Open champion had strained muscles in his ankle while practising earlier in the week on the Greg Norman designed course.

He had first thought of withdrawing from Wednesday’s Pro-Am and despite having the ankle heavily strapped and taking pain-killers along with anti-inflamatories, McDowell completed the long five-and-a-hour event ending into the early evening. McDowell then sought overnight treatment on the ankle and again prior to tee off before advising playing partners Dustin Johnson and Jim Furyk he could no longer continue.