McDowell has Kaymer in sights after Singapore podium

Graeme McDowell dug deep to grab a share of third behind Adam Scott in the weather delayed Barclays Singapore Open - slashing Martin Kamyer’s Race to Dubai lead to just €367,600 with two events remaining.

Scott closed with a three under 68 to take the title for the third time in his career, winning by three shots on 17 under from Denmark’s Anders Hansen (68).

A brace of back nine birdies at the 13th and 14th and a brave par at the next helped McDowell card a one under 70 and tie for third with Sweden’s Rikard Karlberg, a former West of Ireland Championship contender.

The pair earned €240,906 each, which meant that Asian Tour player Karlberg claimed his card, jumping into the top 115 from 343rd in the money list with the sort of performance that Gary Murphy had dreamed of producing.

But the money was just as important for McDowell in his dogged pursuit of Kaymer in the race to become European No 1. Having trailed the US PGA winner by nearly €1m following the German’s win in last month’s Alfred Dunhill Links, McDowell has now reduced the deficit to just €367,600 as Kaymer finished tied for 10th at Sentosa Golf Club.

Scott was three clear of defending champion Ian Poulter when play resumed on Monday morning follow a week of weather delays. But while the Australian played the remaining 10 holes in one under, Poulter dropped three strokes coming home, slipping back to tied sixth after a two over 73.

“It feels great,” said Scott, whose last European Tour win came in the Qatar Masters in 2008. “Relief to finally get finished, it’s been a bit of a long week. I’m very happy to be winning here again.

“I haven’t been putting my best lately and the demons started creeping in on the back nine, but it’s a course I absolutely love and I’ve played so many great shots here.”

Of the rest of the Irish, Peter Lawrie was tied 25th on five over following a closing 73 with Michael Hoey (73) tied 54th on one over.

Stablemates Gareth Maybin (71) and Shane Lowry (73) finished two shots further back in tied 64th on plus three.