Below-par McDowell welcomes ‘reality check’

GRAEME MCDOWELL crashed to an eight over 80 in the first round of the Arnold Palmer Invitational at Bay Hill and confessed that it might be just the “kick in the ass” he needs to get his game in shape for the Masters.

The US Open champion had just one birdie against six bogeys and a triple bogey eight on his 15th hole en route to his highest ever score ever in a non-major on the PGA Tour.

The world number four has been struggling with his long game since the WGC-Accenture Match Play but he now admits that he has a major problem on his hands just 13 days before he takes on Augusta National.

“I’m not very happy with the way I am swinging club and my iron game is very out of control. It’s not like me,” said McDowell who had three three-putts and 35 in total. “A month ago, six weeks ago, I had it on a string. It’s definitely technique issue that I’ve got to get my head around.

“Augusta is in my sights right now, I’ve got 13 days to get ready and this shows me I’ve got a lot of work to get done.

“This may be the wake-up call I need, you know? So it’s a good thing really, a reality check for me. I’ve got to get my ass in gear and start working hard.”

McDowell confessed has his off course life has been transformed since his Pebble Beach win and media requests as well the construction of his new Lake Nona home are issues that have distracted him.

“Not that I haven’t been working hard, but I really have to get my focus back a little bit, and focus on what I am doing as opposed to all the other crap around me right now.

“I haven’t been very happy with my game for about four weeks. Scrappy. The long game’s been a little off the boil. The short game has been sharp and my long game has left me a little bit. It’s back to the drawing board. I have two weeks to get ready for Augusta and that’s the priority.”

Planning to practice at Augusta early next week before hooking up with coach Pete Cowen on Thursday, McDowell added: “This is a tough golf course and you really wanna be on top of your game out there and I was on top of nothing today.

- Six-time winner Tiger Woods hit just four of 14 fairways, finishing with a bogey at the last for a one over 73 that left him seven strokes behind clubhouse leader Spencer Levin.

Seeking his first win for 16 months, the world No 5 didn't hit his first fairway until the 12th as he mixed three birdies with four bogeys in another erratic round.

Californian Levin, who missed out on his maiden PGA Tour win last month when he lost to Johnson Wagner in a play-off for the Mayakoba Golf Classic, had six birdies in an immaculate six under 66 to lead by three shots from Rickie Fowler and Hunter Mahan with Masters champion Phil Mickelson in a large group a shot further back after a 70.