Ryder Cup memories firing up McDowell

THE atmosphere was never going to compare to last October’s Ryder Cup, but Graeme McDowell and Peter Hanson found Celtic Manor a happy hunting ground again yesterday.

Paired together for the opening round of the Saab Wales Open, the Swede fired a six-under-par 65 to tuck in just behind South African Keith Horne.

Defending champion McDowell, meanwhile, improved five shots on his start last year with a 67 that included a 30-foot eagle putt on the 15th — but “only” a par on the hole with which he is most associated.