TOUR NEWS:GRAEME McDOWELL, a two-time winner on tour this season, resumes tournament play at this week's Johnnie Walker championship in Gleneagles safe in the knowledge that his ticket for the Virgin Atlantic Airbus A340-600 flight that will take the European team to the Ryder Cup match in Louisville next month is secured and determined to keep alive his European Tour order of merit prospects.
"One of the great things about this week is that I can sneak in under the radar and let the boys who are still fighting it out for places worry about the Ryder Cup," said McDowell, who is fifth on the money list, €675,370 behind Pádraig Harrington.
While Harrington, who missed the cut in the Barclays last weekend, continues playing Stateside in this week's Deutsche Bank championship in Boston before moving on to the BMW championship in St Louis, McDowell will attempt to make up ground on the Dubliner in the race to top Europe's order of merit.
To that end, McDowell has put in place an intensive end-of-season schedule that will see him play in Gleneagles and, after a week's break, the Mercedes Benz championship in Cologne before flying to Louisville for his debut Ryder Cup appearance.
After that, McDowell intends to play the British Masters at the Belfry, the Dunhill Links, the Portugal Masters, the Castello Masters and the end-of-season Volvo Masters.
McDowell is ranked 29th in the world and has had a two-week break since his top-15 finish in the US PGA at Oakland Hills.
"You don't really get a chance to compete for order of merits too often, unless you're a Colin Montgomerie or somebody," he remarked.
"I'm going to take every chance I have and play hard up to the Dunhill Links and then take stock. If I'm a million euro behind at that point, then maybe I'll drop one of the pre-Volvo Masters tournaments. But I intend to try as hard as I can (to win).
"I'm seeing this as the start of a new mini-season for me. I've worked hard up to the US PGA, had a week off not doing stuff and relaxing in Orlando, and now it's about getting back into the season again."
McDowell heads a strong Irish contingent in the Johnnie Walker, starting on Thursday.
Also in the field are Darren Clarke and Paul McGinley after their one-two finish in the Dutch Open, while Damien McGrane, Peter Lawrie, Gary Murphy and Rory McIlroy are also playing.
Harrington's immediate future will see him focus on the US Tour. The Tour championship, the final event of the FedEx Cup series, is limited to the top-30 on the points list after the BMW and takes place the week following the Ryder Cup.
After missing the cut last weekend, the Irishman has slipped from fourth to 23rd in the FedEx Cup standings.
It also gave him the chance to arrive early at the TPC Boston, where he will attempt to revitalise his challenge for the US Tour's play-offs.
"By getting there a little earlier it means I can do a little every day rather than try and do a lot in any one day," explained Harrington of his decision.
