Graeme McDowell to focus on PGA Tour in pursuit of top 50 return

Graeme McDowell admits he’s had to reassess his priorities and change the tournaments he features in to try and break back in to the world’s top 50.

The Northern Irishman has plummeted down the world rankings having managed just one top-10 finish in 25 worldwide starts so far in 2015, currently sitting 85th in the standings heading in to this week's OHL Classic.

McDowell has traditionally competed in the European Tour's big-money Final Series, but has switched his focus to this week's event in Mexico and the PGA Tour's wraparound season as he looks to get his performances back on track.

"After having had a very average season, I've got to put things in perspective and get my priorities straight," McDowell told a pre-tournament press conference on Wednesday. "My priorities are competing on the FedEx points and on the money lists on the PGA Tour and the European Tour.

"I've got to play golf and I've got to put this year behind me and start moving forward. I've got to start playing a little bit and that was probably my main motivation.

"Waiting until the Honda Classic and not being the majors and the WGC's is too long to wait for me on this side of the Atlantic, so I've got to start putting numbers under by belt.

"Being outside the top 50 in the world, of course I want to play well over the next two weeks and get myself back in there, but if that doesn't happen then I've got to be realistic with the start of my year."

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The 36-year-old is one of the highest ranked players in this week's field, which also includes former major champions Geoff Ogilvy and Angel Cabrera as well as last week's WGC-HSBC champion Russell Knox. 

McDowell would need to end the year inside of the world's top 50 to guarantee invites to the early-season WGC in Doral and also to the opening major of the year at Augusta, but the 2010 US Open champion feels his game is heading in the right direction. 

"The game has been in good shape over the past few months," McDowell added. "I think since about the Scottish Open right before the Open, I've been hitting the golf ball really well and putting myself in the mix a few times going in to Sunday.

"I've not really had a chance to finish high enough up where I'd want to be, but putting myself there I guess is step one and really starting to close a few out is step two.

"Mentally I'm looking forward to the new season and just trying to put this year behind me I suppose. I'm driving it better which is a big key.

"The two things that have left me down this season has been my driving and my putting, which are normally huge strengths for me."

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