McDowell happiest of Irish trio

THREE different scores — one under par, one level and one over par — from three Irishmen but each one of them was happy with his lot after their opening rounds of the US Open at Congressional Country Club yesterday.

Defending champion Graeme McDowell had most to smile about following a one-under-par 70 but there were plenty of positives too for both Pádraig Harrington, who posted an even-par 71, and Shane Lowry, with a 72 on his championship debut.

For McDowell, though, his one bogey, two birdie round had been signposted as the dawn of a new stage in his career after months of looking back to past glories at Pebble Beach, when he won his first major with a nerveless final round in California. And the Portrush star was delighted with the way it kicked off in the most testing of circumstances as he launched his title defence.