G-Mac fancies chances if it turns firm and fast

It is fair to say Graeme McDowell has not always anticipated an early April drive up Magnolia Lane to Augusta National as eagerly as most who get the invitation to play the Masters.

Four missed cuts in six appearances at the opening Major of the year will do that to a player, even if he has won a US Open.

Time for a change of approach then, and having missed the weekend 12 months ago, the Portrush man came back to Georgia determined to put a smile back on his face.

As he bogeyed the 10th and 11th holes of his opening round yesterday, having ground his way through a front nine of pars, that smile may well have been through gritted teeth, but all those years competing here have given McDowell the experience not to panic and he buckled down to work.

Birdies at the par-five 13th and par-four 17th got it back to a respectable level-par 72 that leaves the Irishman in touch with the leaders, although he was left to rue wasted opportunities on three other par-fives.

He three-putted both the second and 15th, which he described colourfully as like ” putting down a marble staircase”, while at the eighth he let birdie slip from the front edge.

“Par fives are the killer of the day today,” McDowell said. “I played the par fives about as well as I can play them tee-to-green and walked off one under par [on them] for the day. That was the killer. The rest was steady away. My iron play was not as sharp as it needs to be. I didn’t hit it close enough. I put my putter under a bit of pressure, but I hung in there really well today.

“All in all not a bad start. Level par is not a bad score to these flag positions today which I thought were tough for day one.

“We’re lucky we had benign conditions. You’re not going to get this golf course any more perfect than it was this morning. I think we are in for a firm, fast weekend. I think it’s going to be a lot of fun; the tougher the better, I hope, for me. Had a good time this morning.”

Strange emotions indeed for McDowell, who added: “I guess I’ve banged my head against the wall for a few years and realised it doesn’t really work for me here at Augusta. I’ve never been as chilled out in practice as I was this week. I only played 24, 25 holes of practice, which is probably the least I’ve ever played coming in here; but probably the most comfortable and relaxed I’ve been on the golf course.

“I say that, go back out there tomorrow and we’ll be grinding away. I say I’m comfortable and relaxed, but still, you’re grinding over six and eight-footers for pars all day long it feels like, but it’s fun.

“If I was to design a golf course for me to win a Major championship, it probably would not look like this, but who knows. A little firmness and a little fastness this weekend, if I can get hot with my iron play, I think I can compete this weekend.”