GOLF: McDowell back in Race to Dubai following victory in Valderrama

The Portrush man picked up 500,000Euros (435,000) and halved

the amount he trails money-list leader Kaymer, who finished joint 21st and missed the chance to take over at the top of the world rankings.

McDowell himself moved into the top 10 of the world rankings for the very first time following his third victory of a phenomenal year.

And now the Race to Dubai is back on again - much to Gmac's delight.

"I've punched a bit of a hole in Martin's lead and I'm going to

Shanghai (for next week's WGC Champions event] with my mojo working,"

said McDowell.

"It's been a very special, special year but I will enjoy my Christmas dinner more if I can give these seven weeks everything, especially the first five leading up to the Dubai World Championships.

"If I can finish on a really positive note it will put a really nice shine on a big season for me.

"It's going to be difficult. Martin is still ahead of me and he's playing extremely well. It's a busy schedule and I just have to try and play as well as I can.

"Obviously I don't wish any bad on him but I hope he goes easy on me. All I can hope for over the next few weeks is to get within striking distance of him heading into the last event in Dubai." McDowell certainly did that over the weekend. He shared the lead with fellow

Northern Irishman Maybin going into the final round but, with strong winds sending scores soaring, McDowell found the going as tough as anyone on the last day.

Despite making three significant par saves by the 14th McDowell was overtaken by McGrane at the short 15th when his rival chipped in from sand for a birdie. McGrane's one-shot lead was shortlived, however, as he double-bogeyed the 16th and then ran up a second straight six by bogeying the 17th. McDowell held off playing partner Maybin when both bogeyed the parfour last.

The US Open champion's casual aside to a TV camera as he walked off

18 at Valderrama succinctly summedup the gruelling gauntlet Europe's

Ryder Cup match-clincher had to run as he claimed his seventh European

Tour victory.

"Glad that's over," McDowell said with a knowing grin after his nail-biting battle-royal with Maybin at by two strokes.

Truer words rarely have been spoken in jest. The going was every bit as brutal at wind-tossed Valderrama as it had been

at Pebble Beach that famous Sunday afternoon in June. "I draw a lot of comparisons with this course to Pebble, where I also shot 74 in the final round on a very tough golf course," said McDowell."