Houston on McDowell radar

Graeme McDowell could get a Houston warm-up for the Masters.

But the Ulsterman has just one last chance to make the world's top 50 and qualify for Augusta at this week's CA-Championship in Miami.

Ranked 59th after his Korea win, McDowell needs a top-eight finish at Doral's Blue Monster as he can't play the final qualifying event in New Orelans next week.

Manager Conor Ridge explained: "He's committed to playing the Tavistock Cup for Lake Nona against Isleworth on Monday and Tuesday next.

"That would rule out going to New Orleans, where he would need an invite anyway. But he still has a chance of getting a sponsor's invite for the Shell Houston Open the week before the Masters."

Ridge of Horizon Sports described Sunday's win as a "massive" for his top client - boosting his chances of playing all the majors and World Golf Championships.

Ridge said: "He's absolutely over the moon. The first win in Sweden came so easy but this is so huge considering the point he's at in his career, making the changes he's made and the belief he has in where he is with his game.

"You still need to go out and prove that to yourself and he's done that now. He showed balls of steel coming down the last hole in the play-off."

Horizon pulledout a coup by signing McDowell from Chubby Chandler's ISM group at the end of last season.

And McDowell paid tribute to his management team on Sunday, explaining: "Conor's been unbelievable and he’s been so positive sending me text messages and emails all week and just trying to keep me positive."

Boss Ridge is on an annual skiing holiday in the French Alps but now has to head home early to join McDowell in Miami later this week.

Ridge said: "I told Graeme that I would kill him if he made me cut my holiday short to go to Miami. But seriously, it is great to have to change plans like this.

"Hearing Graeme acknowledge Horizon on TV after his win was just so gratifying. He can really push on now big time. It's great for him."

McDowell missed his flight out of Korea on Sunday because of the play-off but flew out to his Orlando base via Seoul and Atlanta yesterday to prepare for Doral.