Graeme McDowell: Monday could be the perfect day for me

Nov 9 2008 By Iain Hammill

GRAEME McDOWELL never moans about Monday morning blues and he's hoping he can charge to victory in the extended HSBC Champions event in Shanghai.

The Scottish Open champ, who won the Italian Open in 2004 on a Monday, is just two shots off the lead after poor light halted third-round play on the Sheshan course.

Rain washed out play on Friday with the second round finally getting underway yesterday morning, leaving the Ryder Cup duo of Sergio Garcia (68) and Henrik Stenson (69) tied on a 10-under total of 134.

Ryder rookie Oliver Wilson (68) and former US Open winner Geoff Ogivly (65) were next best on nine under with McDowell (65) and defending Shanghai title holder Phil Mickelson (70) one back.

The third round will continue today but McDowell managed four holes of it yesterday while Garcia, Stenson and Mickelson had yet to tee off. And with the last 18 holes now scheduled for tomorrow Graeme is not complaining about the disruption to his travel plans.

He said: "It's important in top events like this that we play 72 holes because we've good sponsors in HSBC and a good purse so you have to give them what they want.

"Staying here to finish off tomorrow doesn't bother me. I have nowhere to go this week and besides I won the Italian Open on a Monday."

Ogilvy also likes Mondays - the day on which he denied Tiger Woods the WGC-CA Championship earlier this year.

The Aussie star said: "The only tournament I played on a Monday this year I won so I like these finishes."

Wilson arrived in Shanghai still looking for a first Tour victory and after four seconds in the 2008 season the Worksop golfer is also pleased to stay on for another day.

He said: "I have never played on a Monday but if it means getting my hands on that gleaming HSBC Champions trophy I will stay here until Tuesday if I have to.

"Hopefully I can end this year on a high with a win or two. Who knows, maybe three - there are three events left.

"I feel in good shape. I just have to get the putting going."

Meanwhile, the new owners of Turnberry refuse to ditch plans to bring the European Open there despite claims by the R&Athat Open Championships at next year's host course could be in doubt if they do.

David Spencer, head of Golf at Leisurecorp, said: "The European Open is portable."

"If there was an advantage to continued testing improvements to the new Ailsa course we would consider staging the European Open every three to five years."