Graeme McDowell wants 'dream season' to go on for one last hurrah in Dubai

It is hard to believe that Graeme McDowell's year could become any better but, by Sunday night, it might well have.

The US Open champion and the man who clinched the Ryder Cup will be European No 1 - and more than 1.7million richer - if he captures the Dubai World Championship.

"After the Ryder Cup I could have probably put my feet up and taken 80 for the rest of the year," stated McDowell yesterday on the eve of his head-to-head clash with German Martin Kaymer, the only player who can deny him the money-list title.

"I'd still have looked back and said 'great season, dream season', but I didn't want to do that.

"Major championships are definitely the pinnacle, but money-lists are very, very important. I guess you've got to try to set new goals and move on."

Third place this weekend would even be good enough for McDowell if Kaymer, Europe's other new major champion this year and currently out in front by almost 250,000, does not manage a top-20 finish in the 60-man event.

First prize in Dubai is nearly 777,000, while the Order of Merit winner scoops 932,024 out of a bonus pool - paid out to the top 15 - that totals more than 4.6million.

"We're talking about some big numbers here this week and, of course, the financial incentives are very nice," added McDowell, a Northern Irishman all too aware of the monetary crisis currently engulfing the neighbouring Irish Republic.

"Obviously we (golfers) feel very fortunate to be in a world where we are playing for a lot of money when you look at what's going on in the world, especially in Ireland for me.

"The world is a crazy place at the minute. Of course we're all conscious of how important sponsors are in this day and age and we are all working very hard to give tournaments what they need.

"We are all very acutely aware of how fragile things are at the moment.

"I wouldn't say the money is the last thing on our minds, but the prestige of winning the Race to Dubai is probably the first thing. We still have a pretty good image of Lee Westwood on the 18th green last year (the current world No 1 took the tournament and the money-list) and we both want to be that guy."

It could be that Kaymer loses out to McDowell, but still has something massive to celebrate. A top two-finish would see the 25-year-old dethrone Westwood if the Englishman ends up 28th or worse.

Twelve months ago Rory McIlroy was the one out in front in the money-list battle, but Westwood outscored him 66-68 in their opening round duel - all 60 players are sent out in order of their earnings - and went on to win by six. "‘How did I shoot 23-under around here?' Was going through my mind going down about the 12th," said the Worksop golfer, after a practice round on the same Earth course at Jumeirah Estates, a massive property development that still resembles a building site.

"I have to be careful this week not to get caught up in trying to achieve what I achieved last year."

Westwood is currently third in the Race to Dubai standings, but second is as high as he can finish this time.

McIlroy is only 12th, two places lower than he is on the world rankings, and has now gone nearly 22 months since his only European Tour victory so far.

However, winning in America in May and then being part of the triumphant Ryder Cup side means the 21-year-old's 2010 has still had some very high points.

But the highs do not match those of his cup partner and compatriot McDowell. And, if McIlroy was able to get back ahead of him in the world rankings - McDowell is currently ninth - would at least give him some of the bragging rights back.