McDowell shines to leave McIlroy in shade and set up shootout with Woods

By Derek Lawrenson

PUBLISHED: 20:00 EST, 8 March 2013 | UPDATED: 04:37 EST, 9 March 2013

Northern Ireland's hot shot duly found his best form on Friday to set up the thrilling prospect of a shootout against Tiger Woods at the WGC-Cadillac Championship over the Blue Monster course this weekend.

Alas for Rory McIlroy's admirers it was the other one, Graeme McDowell, who showed off his sumptuous skills. He has not had so much as a bogey over his first 36 holes and followed up his opening 66 with a 67 to post an 11-under-par total that leaves him second, two strokes adrift of Woods, who has delivered a two-day clinic with scores of 66 and 65.

Iron man: Graeme McDowell showed off his sumptuous skills

Also in the mix are Woods's best golfing pal, Steve Stricker, on 10 under, and the man who has been the closest thing Woods has had to a rival over the years, Phil Mickelson. It was here in 2005 that they had their most memorable duel, won by Woods for the first of three successive victories in this event.

As for McIlroy, there was also encouraging news. Dressed in Rickie Fowler-orange, the immediate future started to look brighter for the troubled world No 1.

McDowell, the only player in the field without a bogey, defeated Woods in a head-to-head duel in the American's own event last December but acknowledged this event is a different proposition.

'It's obviously a lot more prestigious with a lot more on the line but I'm looking forward to it,' said the 33-year-old. 'I'm playing well and I've learned over the years not to be intimidated by Tiger or the  circus surrounding him.'

A new record for Woods is always special given how high he has set the bar in every category over the years and here he delivered one. Granted, the weather was perfect for scoring but, even so, a career-high 17 birdies in 36 holes is testament not only to the accuracy of his iron play but also the fact he has been putting close to his best.

Future's bright: The swagger has began to return for Rory McIlroy

Good to tak: Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy during the second round

One thing McIlroy proved conclusively is that, if he swings the club properly, those much-discussed Nike weapons will do exactly what they are supposed to do. It took him just five holes to hit as many fairways as he had during the whole of his first round. What was noticeable was the jarring  pre-shot routine on day one that looked so mechanical was ditched on day two with immediate benefits.

The par-five first is a difficult driving hole, with a narrow strip of fairway to aim at, but McIlroy  dissected it and followed it with a wonderful long iron that found the putting surface.

The immediate boost it gave him was obvious at the third, a dangerous driving hole with water down the right. McIlroy's playing partners, Woods and Luke Donald, both elected to hit three woods but the 23-year-old rose to the challenge and again found the  fairway with his driver, some 40 yards past his playing partners.

At the long par-three fourth, a four iron was delivered with laser-like accuracy.

The problem when you work  so hard on your long game, of course, is your short game turns to mush. McIlroy missed 11 greens in his first 27 holes of this event and no fewer than eight of them led to bogeys.

Just for a moment it looked as if frustration would get the better of him following two bogeys but by the eighth it had gone. His touch got better as the round progressed.

Gradually the swagger began to return. He finished with a 69, his first score in the sixties this year. It was good to see.

There is talk he might add one more event before the Masters and pitch up at the Arnold Palmer Invitational in two weeks, which seems wise.

As the legendary Jack Nicklaus predicted this time last week, he might be swinging it fine by Augusta after all.