McDowell and Clarke in party mood

Graeme McDowell has teamed up with Darren Clarke for an end of season blitz in Florida.

The Ulstermen plan to blast the birdies alongside Greg Norman and Matt Kuchar when the $3m Shark Shootout begins at Tiburón Golf Club today. But if their golf goes south they still plan to keep the bar staff busy.

Clarke quipped: “We could definitely win the prize for spending the longest time in the bar this week.

“There’s an awful lot riding on Friday’s scores as to how the following couple of days will go.”

McDowell is still floating on air after completing a dream season by taking down Tiger Woods on his home patch in the Chevron World Challenge last weekend.

And he’s determined to have fun in Greg Norman’s silly season event Tiburón Golf Club in Naples - on and off the course.

McDowell said: “I knew this was going to be my seventh week in a row, and I thought, ‘You know what? I want to have someone to have a little fun with as a partner.’

“If the golf doesn’t go well, we’ll certainly enjoy ourselves, that’s for sure.”

McDowell will head back to his Orlando base after the Shark Shootout before jetting home to Portrush for the Christmas holidays.

Just don’t expect to see him hitting the fairways in Ireland over the holiday period.

Planning a Christmas blowout before easing himself back to action in Hawaii in January, McDowell said: “I’m going to head home next Thursday; golf clubs will probably stay in Orlando. I don’t think I’ll take them home. No point.

“I’m going to come back out here in the new year and start in Hawaii. I’m actually going to have a pretty slow start to the season. I’m only going to play twice probably before Riviera and the World Match Play.”

Clarke has also retuned to live in Ireland and as a neighbour of McDowell’s in Portrush, they plan to take the party transatlantic before getting back to business in 2011.

McDowell said: “I’m certainly looking forward to getting home for Christmas. I’m sure myself and Darren will have a few pints in Portrush.

Clarke added: “Or 10.”

Beaming, McDowell said: “Or 10 maybe. And, you know, really reflect on what’s been an amazing season and really enjoy it and celebrate it, because it has been amazing.

“Looking on to 2011, like I say, I need to pour a lot of the confidence and stuff that I’ve gained this year back into my game. I know how much better I can get. My game can still get a lot better. There’s a lot of the room for improvements.”