Graeme McDowell is enjoying the best year of his career

Graeme McDowell is looking to narrow the gap on Martin Kaymer in the Race to Dubai with a strong performance in the Hong Kong Open, starting on Thursday.

Northern Ireland's McDowell trails the German by £313,000 going into the European Tour's penultimate tournament.

But with Kaymer skipping the event, which offers a £265,000 top prize, McDowell can steal a march going into next week's Dubai World Championship.

He said: "It's important I get as close as I possibly can going into Dubai."

McDowell has been eating away at Kaymer's lead in recent weeks.

He won the Valderrama Masters at the end of October and finished third in the Singapore Open last week.

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Winning the Race to Dubai would cap an incredible year for McDowell who won his maiden major tournament at the US Open in June and earned the winning point for Europe in the Ryder Cup in October.

"This is a very important week, Martin's not playing this week and it's a golf course where I have performed pretty well in the past," he added.

"With Martin not being here this week, it's an opportunity to put some more numbers on the board.

"The game is in good shape coming off the back of a decent week last week in Singapore and I'm very much looking forward to the week."

McDowell will be joined in Hong Kong by fellow Ryder Cup stars Rory McIlroy and Ian Poulter, as well as defending champion Gregory Bourdy.

The Frenchman has not won on the European tour since lifting the Hong Kong Open trophy 12 months ago, beating Northern Ireland's McIlroy by two strokes.

"I love this tournament and when we see all the big names on the trophy, I am very proud to see mine and I will try my best to repeat what I did last year," stated McDowell.

"I feel very good here in Hong Kong and it's my favourite city in China. I love this atmosphere and I will try my best and to win again this year."

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