McGowan keeps cool

William Johnson, Chief Sports Writer

• Last Updated: November 21. 2009 10:47PM UAE / November 21. 2009 6:47PM GMT

Ross McGowan watches his tee shot at the second hole yesterday. Jeff Topping / The National

DUBAI // Ross McGowan refused to be fazed on the biggest day of his career. Instead the Englishman wallowed in the spotlight of going out last alongside Dubai World Championship (DWC) leader Lee Westwood and is relishing the opportunity of a repeat treat this afternoon.

McGowan, 27, who celebrated his maiden European Tour victory in the Madrid Masters last month, rose splendidly to this showpiece occasion. He swiftly wiped out an overnight deficit of two strokes on Westwood and by the turn on Earth Course he had surged past his more experienced compat-riot.

Not even Westwood, who again performed immaculately as he moved within a sight of a possible record pay day of US$3.75m (13.8m) which goes to the player who completes the DWC and Race to Dubai double, could cope with the heat generated by the magnificent McGowan.

Four birdies in a row from the sixth hole to go with the one he had posted on the long second enabled McGowan to cover the outward stretch in only 31 strokes, three better than his playing partner who had birdied four and nine to be two under at the turn.

“I caught a glance at the scoreboard at that time but tried not to let it worry me,” McGowan reflected. “I learned that from winning in Madrid where I had a seven-shot lead and found it tough to keep my concentration.

“It’s always good to get out of the blocks quickly, holing a few long putts in a row to hit the front, and I thought it was going to be five in the row when I hit a good putt at 10 but it just missed.”

While Westwood has been knocking on the door to major titles in recent campaigns and has won 30 professional events during a productive 16-year career, McGowan has appeared only once in a major championship – last year’s US Open at which he finished a distant 77th.

The younger man looked as though he had been performing on the biggest stages for years, however, as he stuck with Westwood when the pressure intensified on the back nine. “I try to play the game with a smile on my face, even if I’m playing badly,” he said. “It’s part of my nature. I’ve always been a fairly relaxed person and I guess that’s rubbing off in a good way.”

After watching Westwood draw level with a tremendous 25ft putt across the 10th green, McGowan could be excused for missing the much shorter birdie chance he had there and he was unable to match Westwood’s excellent birdie at the next as the lead changed hands again.

The two traded shot for shot after that, though, right up to the final green as the impressive McGowan clung to the right to play again with Westwood this afternoon.

McGowan could not match Westwood’s sublime closing four at the last which meant Westwood was back where he started the day, leading by two, but McGowan is upbeat about his own chances.

“There is only one thing on my mind and that is winning this tournament,” added McGowan who has an excellent chance of improving his position of 29th in the Race to Dubai into the top 15 and earning a share of the $7.5m bonus pool.

He aims to be regarded as one of the European Tour’s leading lights before too long. “That was one of the goals I set myself when I started playing golf,” he said. “I always saw myself reaching the top of the game. It’s one step at a time, going past the milestones and we’ll get there in the end.”

That is no idle boast as far as an admiring Westwood is concerned. “Ross played phenomenally out there and his performance spurred me on,” he said.

“It’s been a while since I played with him and he’s improved a lot for sure. Obviously the win in Madrid has given him a lot of confidence and he’s going to be a tough man to beat.”

wjohnson@thenational.ae