Graeme McDowell is the complete player after hunting down Tiger

Graeme McDowell did something no other golfer has ever done on Sunday night, he chased down Tiger Woods’ four shot lead on the final day of a tournament.

Tiger was in a commanding position entering the final day to win his first tournament since his return to the golf course following the revelations about his personal life earlier in the year.

But a three under par round of 69 from McDowell proved too much for Tiger to handle as the Ulsterman capped the greatest year of his life with a play-off win in the final tournament of the 2010 season.

While the golf season might be over, McDowell’s season hasn’t ended as the Northern Irishman is short-listed for the BBC’s Sports Personality of the Year award and is second favourite to win the award at 7/2.

2010 has seen McDowell become the US Open Champion, a Ryder Cup winner, Wales Open champion and Andalucia Masters champion, but it’s his victory in the Chevron World Challenge that marks him out as the golfer of the year.

McDowell has been regularly underestimated in the betting market all year, usually finding himself around 20/1 to win a tournament when the favourite is priced at 8/1.

But having stunned arguably the greatest golfer ever, McDowell has proven to himself, and all who follow golf, that the Ulsterman is ready to challenge Woods and Lee Westwood for the coveted title of the world’s number one golfer in 2011.

AP McCoy may be the 1/1 favourite to win the BBC award, but he faces stiff competition from the jovial McDowell, and the Ulsterman proved in his play-off with Woods on Sunday night that he will fight until the end.

However McCoy’s battle with McDowell will be nothing compared to what the world’s best golfers will have to face when taking on McDowell in 2011.

A £10 stake on McDowell winning the sports personality award would return £45. New customers can sign up here for a free £10 bet.