DAMIEN McGRANE made global headlines last week by fighting his way into Tiger's company in Dubai. This weekend in Delhi, however, McGrane (36) makes the news and the running by himself.

And this afternoon's third round of The Indian Masters will acquire a special Irish flavour as McGrane this time takes pride of place in the final pairing with Graeme McDowell of Portrush.

McDowell (28) trails McGrane by two strokes in a tie for second on 6-under with chiselled Frenchman Raphael Jacquelin and unheralded South Africa's Hendrik Buhrmann.

While the Ulsterman's reputation is well-established after two wins in six years on Tour, McGrane's stirring efforts over the past nine days sent the international media thumbing through the Tour Guide.

Nappies

One British reporter even had the temerity to ask McGrane in Dubai if he'd "be s******* himself" at the prospect of playing with Tiger, drawing a sharp retort from the Meathman that he'd never felt the need to wear nappies on the golf course.

In fact, McGrane probably is one of the most single-minded and resilient individuals on Tour. Padraig Harrington says "He's an example to us all", the Open Champion adding that he'd advise aspiring professionals to take particular note of Damien's self-belief and determination to do his own thing.

This is former club pro McGrane's fifth year full-time on Tour, a period which has seen his career earnings from tournament golf top €1.77m.

Though he's been close a couple of times, most notably in 2006 in Holland, where McGrane finished third after leading into the last round (which he played with Peter Lawrie), Delhi offers Damien his best chance of his first victory on Tour.

Tight and somewhat old fashioned, Delhi Golf Club demands both precision and patience. McDowell explained: "Here you must have the mental strength to stay committed to your game plan all day long. Sometimes the guys you're playing with will pull out drivers and 3-woods while you're only hitting 2-iron and you've got to have the self-belief to stick to your guns."

Though he felt he didn't play quite as well yesterday as on Thursday, McGrane still compiled a satisfactory 69 and intends following the same strategy this weekend.

Darren Clarke chipped in from short of the green for a brilliant eagle at 18, a second round 69 lifting the Ulsterman into a tie for 12th, a splendid effort considering Clarke's three-day battle with the infamous 'Delhi Belly', a gastric flu, which has forced a several players to withdraw.

- William S Callahan