Graeme McDowell alters his stance which could save his game

A change of heart could pay massive dividends for Graeme McDowell after the former US Open champion survived a windswept opening day of the Aberdeen Asset Management Scottish Open.

On a day when winds gusting up to 40mph sent scores soaring, McDowell carded a two-under 70 to lie a shot off the lead held by Australia’s Scott Hend and Chile’s Felipe Aguilar at Castle Stuart.

McDowell had previously accused the Scottish Open of losing its “identity and prestige” by moving to the “one-dimensional” course outside of Inverness, which only opened in 2009.