McDowell starts badly again

Graeme McDowell fell behind for the third day running as he battled with Korean YE Yang today for a place in the quarter-finals of the WGC-Accenture Match Play Championship in Tucson.

Ireland’s US Open champion came back from losing the opening hole to beat both Heath Slocum and Ross Fisher, but a bogey at the short third saw him go one down to the 2009 US PGA winner.

McDowell could go as high as second in the world by winning the title on Sunday, although that depended on Martin Kaymer losing to Hunter Mahan in his third round clash.

Rickie Fowler, who thrashed Phil Mickelson 6&5 yesterday, lost two of the first three holes to another Ryder Cup teammate in Matt Kuchar, while twice winner Geoff Ogilvy was three down after three to left-hander Bubba Watson.