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Colsaerts closes in on GMac in race for Ryder Cup

Nicolas Colsaerts has moved into the top 50 for the first time © PA Photos

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• Profile: Nicolas Colsaerts | Graeme McDowell

Graeme McDowell's winless streak continued after he fell agonisingly short of his first victory in nearly 18 months.

McDowell moved up two places to No. 18 in the world rankings after he lost in the final of the Volvo World Match Play Championship in Spain. But the former US Open champion admitted he was well beaten by Belgian Nicolas Colsaerts in gusty conditions during Sunday's final.

"I'm disappointed obviously," McDowell said. "But I'm taking nothing away from Nicolas, he played fantastic golf.

"He's got a great wind game and he's a fantastic talent - I got beat by the better man. He really killed me off the tee box and flighted his irons fantastic."

Colsaerts failed to win either of his group matches, but survived a play-off to reach the knockout stages to claim his first win of the season which sees him break into the world's top 50 for the first time.

"It's just fantastic - it means everything," the world No. 31 said. "Two days ago I was in my room taking a nap thinking I was going to fly home. To have my name next to major winners and all of these on the trophy, it's a dream come true."

Despite moving into the final Ryder Cup qualifying spot, Colsaerts insists he is not thinking about this year's competition at Medinah.

"It's always been a dream of mine as a kid to play, but there's a long way to go, so I don't want to make any plans or anything," he added.

World Rankings: 1. Rory McIlroy (NIR), 2. Luke Donald (ENG), 3. Lee Westwood (ENG), 4. Bubba Watson (USA), 5. Matt Kuchar (USA) 6. Hunter Mahan (USA), 7. Tiger Woods (USA), 8. Steve Stricker (USA), 9. Phil Mickelson (USA), 10. Justin Rose (ENG), 11. Martin Kaymer (GER), 12. Webb Simpson (USA), 13. Adam Scott (AUS), 14. Jason Dufner (USA), 15. Louis Oosthuizen (RSA), 16. Charl Schwartzel (RSA), 17. Jason Day (AUS), 18. Graeme McDowell (NIR), 19. Dustin Johnson (USA), 20. Rickie Fowler (USA)

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