Graeme McDowell predicted it might just be possible. "All I can do is go try to shoot 66, 67... there's a 75, 76 waiting for anyone on this golf course." He was spot on as he shot the joint best round of the day - 67 - to capture his 10th European Tour title and put himself back in the Ryder Cup reckoning with a superb putting performance at Le Golf National.

They played the back nine in a combined 11 over par to see their title hopes all but evaporate. Yet Graeme McDowell, Michael Hoey and Damien McGrane still have a lot to play for in the final round of the Alstom Open de France.

Graeme McDowell used to call him "Mágico" when they were growing up and with five European Tour wins under his belt, he wasn't far off the mark in his moniker for Shandon Park star Michael Hoey.

Shane Lowry is about to go out with Kevin Stadler and Brendon de Jonge in the US Open at Pinehurst No 2. But it will come as a surprise to no-one who saw what Lowry described as a "cheeky" USGA 'heavyweight' pairing that he's more than a little peeved.