BBC Sports Personality of the Year 2010 - Graeme McDowell

The BBC Sports Personality of the Year will be announced on Sunday night, in a packed LG Arena in Birmingham. Could Graeme McDowell be the winner? Chris Mayer looks at the golfer's year of greatness.

The past 12 months have been a whirlwind for the Ulsterman after winning the US Open, his first major in golf and the first UK winner of a major tournament since Paul Lawrie in 1999.

McDowell was thrust into the public eye after one month of tremendous golf in June. In fact, he only just qualified for the US Open after just about hanging on to his  No 49 in the World Ranking, where the cut-off line is the top 50.

He began it winning the Celtic Manor Wales Open, carding a superb 64 and 63 in his last two rounds. Next stop, Pebble Beach, one of the most stunning courses in the world and also one of the trickiest links at times. The world's elite struggled to cope with the swirling winds and pin positions.

Dustin Johnson came into the tournament winning the last two PGA Tour events and was the man in form but after the opening two days, McDowell led the pack as the field was reduced.

Johnson carded a 66 to put himself back in contention and led the tournament going into the final day. It set up a showdown between McDowell and Johnson, with Tiger Woods lurking 5 shots back, ready to pounce with a point to prove after a year he'd rather forget.

Day four provided remarkable entertainment for all the wrong reasons, as everyone struggled with the course proving difficult in prevailing winds.

Johnson imploded early, after getting stuck in the rough on the edge of the green, picking up a triple bogey. He then carded a double bogey on the 3rd and a bogey on the 4th, suggesting the pressure was getting to the American. By hole 7, after slicing his tee-shot onto the 16th, Johnson's grip on the trophy was all but gone as he plummeted down the leaderboard.

Nobody else really managed to capitalise on his misfortune and followed suit. Woods' third round was a distant memory, carding a 75. Major winners Ernie Els and Phil Mickelson couldn't mount a challenge either in the testing conditions.

McDowell found himself leading by a considerable margin by the turn, and only realised that he could win it soon after. He kept his cool and went into the 18th with 2 putts to win the US Open. His first fell a foot short, and he duly sunk the second and looked straight to the heavens.
He was the only player to be on even par for the Championship. Others faltered but McDowell's resolve proved key to his first major success. It was Fathers Day and fortunately his dad, Kenny was there to celebrate with him, no doubt long into the night.

The glitz and glamour of Hollywood were up next for McDowell as he appeared on the Tonight Show with Jay Leno, cementing his place as one of golf's leading talents. But McDowell manages to combine the celebrity lifestyle well with his day-to-day routine, still visiting Portrush whenever he can.

McDowell was part of the winning European Ryder Cup team at Celtic Manor beating the USA 14 1/2 to 13 1/2. Team captain Colin Montgomerie sent him out last in the single matches, believing he could cope with the immense pressure bestowed upon him. He proved Monty was right to trust him, as he held his nerve to beat Hunter Mahan, after the American wonderkid conceded defeat after missing his putt on the final hole.

Wild celebrations followed as Europe's regained golf's premier team trophy. McDowell's winning form doesn't show any sign of letting up, after he added the Chevron World Challenge to his honour roll for 2010. McDowell beat former World No.1 Tiger Woods with a 20ft putt in the playoff, showing that the tides may be changing and the European wave of golfers might dominate further.

McDowell now stands at No.7 in the world after a sensational year on the course. The next challenge for him might be to oust Lee Westwood from the top of those rankings.

Odds of winning - 4/1

Verdict - Definitely a fan favourite, but the golfing vote could be split between Westwood and McDowell, ruling them both out.