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McDowell happy to silence detractors in Hawaii

Graeme McDowell's final round got off to a good start with a birdie at the first hole in Kapalua © PA Photos

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Graeme McDowell was relieved to have answered his doubters after he rattled off an 11-under-par final round of 62 to finish third at the Tournament of Champions in Hawaii.

McDowell starts the year inside the world top five having won his first career major during 2010. With Ryder Cup team-mate Lee Westwood leading the world rankings, McDowell has been tipped to usurp his colleague over the next 12 months, although he faces stiff competition from the likes of Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson and Martin Kaymer.

The Tournament of Champions threatened to get McDowell's year off to the wrong kind of start as he failed to cash in on a hugely hospitable Plantation Course at Kapalua for the first three rounds. However, his sensational score of 62 on the final day was the lowest of the competition, and it took McDowell to within one shot of a play-off.

"I'm very happy with the day's work," the 2010 US Open champion said."It's great to come out and answer all of the questions this week.

"I realised it was going to be a difficult way to start the season, with new equipment in the bag coming off the back of last year."

Ian Poulter joins McDowell in the top 10 after he finished sixth in Hawaii, picking up a $200,000 cheque for his troubles.

Meanwhile, South African Louis Oosthuizen got his year off to a great start by winning the Africa Open in order to enter the world top 20. Oosthuizen edged a three-way play-off to deny England's Chris Wood.

World Rankings: 1. Lee Westwood (Eng), 2. Tiger Woods (USA), 3. Martin Kaymer (Ger) 4. Phil Mickelson (USA), 5. Graeme McDowell (NI), 6. Steve Stricker (USA), 7. Jim Furyk (USA), 8. Paul Casey (Eng), 9. Luke Donald (Eng), 10. Ian Poulter (Eng), 11. Ernie Els (RSA), 12. Rory McIlroy (NI), 13. Matt Kuchar (USA), 14. Dustin Johnson (USA), 15. Retief Goosen (RSA), 16. Francesco Molinari (Ita), 17. Robert Karlsson (Swe), 18. Edoardo Molinari (Ita), 19. Louis Oosthuizen (RSA), 20. Hunter Mahan (USA)

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