McDowell claims early lead

Graeme McDowell made a superb start at Valderrama today in his bid to end a bitterly disappointing season on a nigh note.

The Ulsterman, only 59th on the Order of Merit, kicked off the Volvo Masters with a four-under-par 67 to lead by one from Swede Niclas Fasth, winner of last week’s Mallorca Classic.