Graeme McDowell might have had an average day on the speedy greens of Sherwood Country Club but in outscoring big-hitting playing partner Rory McIlroy by a stroke he proved that power is not always the answer.

A level par 72 to McIlroy’s 73 in his defence of the Northwestern Mutual World Challenge left him five strokes adrift of Zach Johnson, a player of similar qualities, but still well-placed to rack up his third win in his last four starts in Tiger Woods’ season-ending bash.