Advertisement
David Davies/PA Wire/Press Association Images
Opening Drive

G-Mac finds early form as he launches Celtic Manor defence

McDowell happy after his opening round 67 at the Welsh Open.

GRAEME MCDOWELL HAD a happy return to Celtic Manor this morning, shooting a solid opening round of four-under par as he sets out to defend the Welsh Open title which he won last year.

Teeing off on the par-three tenth hole, the Portrush man was quick to get into his stride on the course where he helped win the Ryder Cup for Europe last October, picking up a shot on the twelfth before bouncing back from a bogey at 14 with an eagle two at the very next hole.

Back-to-back birdies at six and seven after the turn saw him close out the round on 67, three shots adrift of the current leader, Keith Horne of South Africa.

Sweden’s Peter Hanson lies in second, one shot behind Horne.

“Overall I’m very happy with the way I played,” the reigning US Open champion said afterwards.

“I went a little cold with the putter in the middle, but I’m really flighting the ball correctly and can see my way round the course.

“It’s definitely been a good hunting ground for me and I’m hoping to continue that. It’s good, it’s positive and I know I can go low here.”

McDowell is joined on four-under by his fellow Irishman Damien McGrane who proved that he was more than capable of navigating the Newport course, scoring six birdies in total.

The fourteenth, the only hole on which McDowell failed to save par, proved to be tricky for McGrane who also dropped a shot there as well as one at the par-five second hole.

Darren Clarke teed off for his opening round at 1:25 this afternoon with Shane Lowry launching his own challenge 20 minutes later.