Graeme McDowell is set to celebrate his recent engagement with victory in the Tiger Woods hosted World Challenge, and two years after his last taste of success in the same event at Sherwood Country Club in suburban L A.

McDowell will take a three shot lead heading to the weekend rounds after posting a second round 66 for a nine-under par tally.

“A good day’s work,” said McDowell before being escorted off to undergo a random drug’s test.

Graeme McDowell muscles his way three clear of the field in the Chevron Challenge. (Photo – www.pgatour.com)

In-form American Bo Van Pelt, and winner of the recent new European Tour event in Perth, Australia, carded a 68 to leave him tied for second spot with Major winners, Keegan Bradley and Jim Furyk, who each signed for 69s.

Defending champion Woods had tied McDowell for the lead but stalled and had to settle for a 69 to be four shots behind the Northern Irishman.

“I had a decent warm-up session, but the work I did last night was some of the best I’ve hit the golf ball all year,” Woods said.

“I just had to come out here and trust it, and when I did, I got into a nice little run there. I just need to do that all 36 holes on the weekend.”

In recent weeks McDowell has travelled extensively spending two weeks competing in China, a short break in Dubai where he got himself engaged, before heading to Australia where he finished 10th in the Talisker Masters in Melbourne.

He then returned to Dubai but it was an unpleasant stay with the 2010 US Open champion again failing to come to grips with the greens at the Earth Course at Jumeriah Estates.

It was little wonder McDowell was excited about the prospect of returning to Sherwood and the scene of his last victory two year ago.

But in looking back on 2012 McDowell could be pleased as he played in the final group in back-to-back majors, the U.S. Open and The Open, without winning before being on the triumphant European Ryder Cup team.

“I would love to compete and play well this weekend, really to kind of put a little icing on what’s been a mediocre year,” McDowell said. “Despite the fact that I feel like I’ve played some decent golf this year, I really don’t have a lot to show for myself, and this would be a nice way to finish.”

And McDowell has fond memories of the event three years ago when Woods withdrew due to personal problems in his life and the Portrush pro finished second to finish the year inside the top-50 on the World Rankings to secure an invitatiton the Masters and also tee-up in the 2010 US Open at Pebble Beach.

McDowell had revealed to journalists present last week in Dubai he will be taking 10 weeks off at the close of this weeks event, to not only get settled into his new house in Orlando but to also spend time with his financee ahead of starting his 2013 season back in LA for the Northern Trust Open.

“I’ll be trying to stay out of the bar as much as possible,” he joked.

“December will be very much recharging and relaxing and moving into my new house in Orlando and spending some time with friends and family. And January will be detoxing and practicing and getting ready to do it all again.”

* Story – www.pgatour.com