• European Tour

McDowell confident of snatching No. 1 ranking

ESPN staff
January 19, 2011
Graeme McDowell is level with Phil Mickelson at No. 4 in the world © Getty Images
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Graeme McDowell has fired a warning to Lee Westwood by insisting he is confident of snatching the world No. 1 spot in the near future.

The Ulsterman was loitering at 40th in the rankings 12 months ago before his US Open win in June laid the platform for a surge up the standings.

After a glorious few months - he won four competitions last year - he now finds himself level with Phil Mickelson in the No. 4 spot, and within touching distance of Westwood.

Ahead of this week's Abu Dhabi Golf Championship, McDowell's first European Tour event of 2011, he admits that he is setting his sights high.

"[Being ranked fourth is] amazing and it's beyond my wildest dreams, and besides it's something that I always wanted to achieve, to get myself as high up the rankings as possible," he said. "Now that I am there it is important to stay there and also to improve.

"But then the world rankings simply reflect on the golf I have played the last seven months.

"The big key for me now is to try and maintain that type of form over the next two years and beyond then I will feel as though I am one of the world's best. I've said before that in the past achieving No. 1 in the world didn't always seem possible as we were playing in the Tiger Woods era.

"But now it is achievable and I would be lying if I stood here and said I was not believing I could be the best player in the world as some point in my career."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
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