Graeme McDowell’s last-minute inclusion in the Chevron World Challenge in place of absent host Tiger Woods reaped huge benefits as a runner-up finish propelled the Northern Irishman into the top 50 on the Official World Golf Rankings.
In a great weekend for European Tour Members, McDowell was second to Jim Furyk at Sherwood Country Club in California, and with the event carrying ranking points for the first time, he more than doubled his tally to jump from 55th to 38th in the world and qualify for the Masters Tournament in April next year.
It was also important progress in the race to be part of the European Team at next year’s Ryder Cup, as the 30 year old leapt from 28th to 12th on the European Ryder Cup World Points List. Lee Westwood, winner of The Race to Dubai 2009, finished joint third in the US and is already nearly three-quarters of the way towards the total that earned a place in The 2008 European Ryder Cup Team.
It was a good weekend for another European Tour Member, Adam Scott, too, as the 29 year old won the Australian Open on home soil to move up 20 places to 34th on the World Rankings to also claim a place in next year’s Masters Tournament.
Scott’s compatriot Robert Allenby notched his first win in four years at the Nedbank Golf Challenge at Sun City in South Africa, beating Sweden’s Henrik Stenson at the third extra hole of a play-off. Allenby continued his superb record in play-offs, having only lost one out of 12 in his career, and climbed from 30th to 26th in the world.
Another European Tour Member, Daniel Vancsik, enjoyed a fruitful weekend, finishing tied second behind Tom Lehman at the Argentina Masters after a final round of six under par 65 put him level with home favourite Miguel Carballo.
