Graeme McDowell’s performance in Hawaii over the weekend has left him in a position to take the world number four spot off Phil Mickelson.

The US Open champion narrowly missed out on a place in the play-off by just one shot.

Nonetheless McDowell’s efforts means the gap between himself and Mickelson, fourth in the latest world rankings, is now down to just 0.09 points. Commentators are now speculating that McDowell appears destined to move a step closer to that number one spot still held by England’s Lee Westwood.

It's understood that McDowell will now take this week off to refresh and recharge, teeing up in the Abu Dhabi Championship two weeks from now before building up to the US Masters at Augusta in April.