McDowell leading the way in World Golf Challenge

Graeme McDowell’s third-round 68 has left him very well placed to reclaim the World Challenge he first won in 2010.

The Northern Irishman is the 8/11 favourite to win the Tiger Woods-hosted event after a flawless day three performance in California, which saw him cruise home with seven straight pars.

Coincidentally, McDowell’s last tournament win came at the Sherwood Country Club and he holds a two-shot lead over American Keegan Bradley ahead of the final round.

Bradley produced the best showing on day three after carding a 67 and can be backed at 11/5 to overhaul McDowell going into the last day.

The pair will tee off as the final two-ball of the day and Bradley is favoured to get the win at 10/11. A three-shot victory would surely guarantee the title with the current occupier of third place, Tiger Woods, five shots back.

Ignoring Tiger is a dangerous game to play and at 8/1 a few could well be tempted to have a dabble on the reigning champion. In fact, he’s won this tournament five times in the past 11 renewals, but it would take something very special on the his part and something catastrophic from the two front runners for him to make it six this time around.

A second successive 69 on day three indicates he’s in good touch though and, with him expected to put some pressure on the leading pair, the 4/6 that says he beats Bo Van Pelt in the two-ball stakes as good as money in the bank.

Van Pelt is tied with Woods on -8 but after shooting 70 day three, his scores seem to be going the wrong way for him to worry the trophy engraver.

He’ll need a low 60’s score in round four if he’s going to have any chance here, but the seven 70+ efforts he’s carded in his last eight tournaments suggest it’s not going to happen, as does his 16/1 tournament winner price.

All odds and markets accurate as of publication’s time and date