Graeme McDowell posted one of his lowest scores all season and then confessed if push came to shove he is more focussed on qualifying for the 2016 Ryder Cup than compete in the Olympics

And Ireland’s current third highest world ranked player, and with the top-two to go to Rio de Janeiro, says he is not about to get into a conflict with fellow Irishman Shane Lowry and presently Ireland’s second highest on the World Rankings in figthing to join World No. 1 Rory McIlroy in Brazil.

Graeme McDowell shoots one of his best scores this season and then reveals he would rather be competing in the Ryder Cup than represent Ireland in the Olympics.

“It’s going to be difficult because Shane (Lowry) is obviously a fantastic player and Padraig (Harrington) has obviously shown some big signs as well,” said McDowell after shooting a four under par 66 on on the first day of the WGC – Bridgestone Invitational.

“The race is going to be tough. I mean, I’m certainly not going to — I’ll be more interested in making the Ryder Cup team, to be honest with you, come that point in the season. That’s always my focus.

“I think the Olympics are so hard to quantify so I’m not going to get myself into a race with Shane or Padraig.

“I’m just not going to get into a race with them. I’m going to be trying to take care of my own business and get myself on a Ryder Cup team and have a big 2016.

“If the Olympics gets in the way, great. I’m not going to get myself in a head-to-head battle with these guys.

“There’s no point. I can only control my golf ball. Of course I’d love to be there, let’s be honest”.

And as a follow-up McDowell was quizzed if he would rather adjust his schedule to earn more Ryder Cup points or in contrast alter his schedule to earn, if needed, Olympic Games points.

“I mean, they’re kind of different qualifying scenarios, aren’t they? One’s a point system, and the other is just a straight World Ranking system,” he said.

“The other one is obviously the more points accrued, the better. So it’s a quantity game. Obviously, the World Rankings is a quality game.

“So they’re kind of different, I think. I don’t know. That was a hard question to answer. I’m glad I had a way to answer it.”

McDowell’s round of 66 left him tied in second place and just one shot behind New Zealand’s Danny Lee who heads the $US 9.25m event at five under par.

McDowell’s round was his equal lowest in the Bridgestone in 29 rounds of the Firestone course and is also only the fifth occasion he’s managed to break 70.