McDowell on course for Match Play final

Graeme McDowell today remained on course for his second consecutive Volvo World Match Play Championship final, with Thongchai Jaidee looking his likely opponent.

McDowell, beaten by Nicolas Colsaerts 12 months ago, held a two-hole lead over South Africa’s Branden Grace at the midway point of their semi-final at Thracian Cliffs.

And Thailand’s Jaidee, who helped knock out Ryder Cup hero Ian Poulter in the group stages, was three up on South African Thomas Aiken after 11 holes.

McDowell got off to a blistering start, pitching to two feet for a birdie at the first and holing from 18ft for another on the third.

After conceding Grace’s short birdie putt on the fourth, the Northern Irishman then holed from 20ft to halve the hole and moved three up with another birdie on the next.

Grace reduced the deficit by winning the sixth before the next three holes were halved in par.

Jaidee had moved four up on Aiken after seven holes and three birdies in the next four from the Avantha Masters winner were only enough to claw back one hole.