Defending champion Graeme McDowell has admitted that it was crucial to begin his Volvo World Match Play Championship campaign with a victory on Wednesday.

The Northern Irishman started the group stage of the event by recording a 3&2 win over Alexander Levy, who arrived in Kent full of confidence following his triumph in the Portugal Masters on the weekend.

"There are no easy matches and you can't take anyone lightly, especially a guy who won last week, so I'm very happy to get the victory," McDowell told Sky Sports News. "I was hot on the greens and he was cold and that was the difference.

"It's important to control your own destiny in the group stages, you don't want to be relying on other people and if I can win tomorrow I will be in a great position."

McDowell faces Mikko Ilonen on Thursday.