Last year Graeme McDowell received a last-minute call to replace Tiger Woods at the 2009 Chevron Golf Challenge at Sherwood Country Club, Thousand Oaks in California after the World Number - at that time - withdrew from the tournament citing injuries sustained in the car crash over the Thanksgiving Holiday.
Given the chance McDowell took full advantage of the opportunity and on the third day fired a 6-under par 66 to secure a share of the lead with Y.E. Yang of Korea.
In the final round the Portrush golfer signed for a two under par round of 70 to finish second behind Jim Furyk – the eventual winner of the FedEx Cup in September – after he carded a last round 67.
For McDowell the consolation was probably the better news as he moved into the top 50 in the Official World Golf Ranking – jumping 17 spots to 38th position - which also earned him an automatic invite to the U.S Masters Golf Championship at Augusta Golf Club in April.
As the season went from bad to worse for Tiger Woods – losing the Number One title he had held for a record five years on October 31st to Lee Westwood - McDowell ended his season the first European to win the US Open Championship in forty years; winning the Wales Open at Celtic Manor in June, returning in October to secure the Ryder Cup for Europe at the same venue and then chasing down the European Number one title in the Dubai World Championship last weekend.
In the end McDowell effort ran out of gas in the desert and he finished in second place in the Race to Dubai - behind Martin Kaymer. Not unlike this time last year at the Chevron Challenge - which bodes well for this week it would seem. If he can overcome the indomitable Jim Furyk, who has similarly enjoyed a successful 12 months - albeit more lucrative - following the 10 million dollars that came with the FedEx Cup.
Joining McDowell will be the new European number One, Kaymer, along three other major winners and 13 Ryder Cup participants in a unique $5 million event that features only 18 players on the demanding, 7,027-yard Sherwood Country Club in a four-round, 72-hole stroke play event with $1.2 million awarded to the winner.
Tiger Woods will find his hands full as he attempts to add another title to his collection as he is joined by Steve Stricker, Luke Donald, Paul Casey, Matt Kuchar, Ian Poulter, Rory McIlroy, Hunter Mahan, Anthony Kim, Zach Johnson, Sean O'Hair, Dustin Johnson and Bubba Watson.
Sherwood Country Club, tucked away in the Santa Monica mountains, has been the tournament's home base for 11 years and has proven to be a worthy test for the game's greatest stars.
Furthering its commitment to improving education in California, the Chevron World Challenge 2010 has expanded its nonprofit partners to include: DonorsChoose.org, Project Lead the Way, Teach For America and TELACU Education Foundation.
These are in addition to the Tiger Woods Foundation.
The Chevron World Challenge runs from December 2nd - 5th, 2010
