Ireland’s Graeme McDowell is confident he’s shred the rust of finishing well down last week at Lake Malaren, the current Race to Dubai Number two is confident of making up ground on current Number One Henrik Stenson.

McDowell’s share of 53rd place in last week’s BMW Masters saw him slip Euro 18,153 further behind the Swede who shot a final day 65 to share 34th place.

It’s meant the current Race to Dubai No. 2 placed McDowell trails Euro 443,725 adrift of Stenson.

“I was just a little rusty last week and after getting off to a nice start, and what you do after a long break,” McDowell said.

Super shot of Graeme McDowell launching a drive off the 9th hole. (Photo – Eion Clarke/www.golffile.ie)

“But all that did was to flatter me and deceive me and from there on I was in grind mode, and I found myself starting to think about it more on the greens.

“So I went from putting okay at the start of the week to going right my putting by the end of the week.  My wedge play was also a bit loose.

“But in saying that I am in a good frame of mind this week and right up for it, and overall I’m a lot sharper than compared to last week.”

However McDowell is hopeful of making up ground given he will not compete in next week’s inaugural Turkish Airlines Open.

“This Sheshan course is the kind of course if I drive it well I can compete as it’s s not a super-long golf course,” McDowell added.

“I’ve had a couple of good results here and a couple of top-10s, so I need to compete here this week as Henrik is still going to be tough to beat.

“I saw he shot a last round 65 in the BMW so he looks like he’s over his injury.

“So I do have my work cut out for me but as I said I’ve never backed away from any challenge.

“I’ve also got Turkey off so that I will be fresh going into Dubai.”