McDowell gets the perfect start

Defending champion Graeme McDowell began the Volvo World Matchplay Championship with a win over Alexander Levy on Wednesday.
The Northern Irishman was up against the Portugal Masters winner and they were all square after three holes at the London Club.
But McDowell would go on to birdie five out of the next seven holes and the Frenchman could just not keep up. McDowell sealed the 3&2 win with a half on the 16th.
“There are no easy matches and you can’t take anyone lightly, especially a guy who won last week, so I’m very happy to get the victory,” the 35-year-old told Sky Sports.
“I was hot on the greens and he was cold and that was the difference. It’s important to control your own destiny in the group stages, you don’t want to be relying on other people and if I can win tomorrow I will be in a great position.”
In other results, South Africa’s George Coetzee put on a good display against world number five as the pair halved their match while Shane Lowry carded a seven under round to defeat Stephen Gallacher.
Also in action was Frenchman Victor Dubuisson who rolled over Pablo Larrazabal after the Spaniard failed to card a single birdie on the London course.
Finally, Patrick Reed’s two bridies were eclipsed by Jonas Blixt’s four as he slumped to 2&1 loss.
“It was one of those days where both of us played pretty solid but at the end of the day I didn’t really make anything,” said Reed.
“I missed a short one on six and it seemed like that was the story of the day, just missing putts left and right.”
Wednesday also saw wins for Joost Luiten, Thongchai Jaidee and England’s Paul Casey.
Latest
-
PGA Championship
Justin Thomas pays tribute to caddie Jim ‘Bones’ Mackay after his US PGA victory
Phil Mickelson’s former bagman gave Thomas a crucial pep talk after he shot 74 on Saturday.
-
PGA Championship
Tommy Fleetwood confident he is ‘coming out the other side’ after dip in form
Fleetwood finished in a tie for fifth at the US PGA Championship.
-
PGA Championship
Emotional Justin Thomas credits his experience for US PGA victory
Thomas also won the 2017 US PGA at Quail Hollow.
-
PGA Championship
Justin Thomas eclipses Will Zalatoris in play-off to claim second US PGA title
The former world number one’s victory equalled the biggest comeback in US PGA history.
-
PGA Championship
Rory McIlroy’s Sunday charge at US PGA Championship ends in disappointment
McIlroy’s closing 68 in Tulsa was followed by him declining to speak to waiting reporters.
-
PGA Championship
Paul McGinley says Tiger Woods deserves better than to be a ‘ceremonial golfer’
The 46-year-old withdrew from a major championship for the first time in his professional career at Southern Hills.
-
PGA Championship
Mito Pereira with three-shot lead at US PGA as Tiger Woods withdraws
It is the first time in his career that Woods has withdrawn from a major.
-
PGA Championship
Matt Fitzpatrick relishing chance at securing first major title
A third round of 67 means Fitzpatrick trails leader Mito Pereira by three shots at the US PGA Championship.
-
PGA Championship
Tiger Woods withdraws from US PGA following his worst round at event
The American made the halfway cut with a shot to spare at Southern Hills, but struggled to a nine-over-par 79 in the third round.
-
PGA Championship
Rory McIlroy suffers early blow to slip further back at PGA Championship
After a run of five straight pars McIlroy pulled his tee shot to the par-three sixth into the water and ran up a double-bogey five.