Friendly advice inspires McDowell

A sensational eight-under-par 64 fired Graeme McDowell into the clubhouse lead at the Ballantine’s Championship – and he revealed he gained some extra help from playing partner Thomas Bjorn who also moved into contention with a 66.

The 28-year-old from Portrush played the opening two rounds alongside the 37-year-old Dane, who has represented Europe in two Ryder Cups, and reaped the benefits of some additional tuition.

“We’ve been helping each other out a little bit in and around the greens this week,” said McDowell.

“We’ve been practising a little bit together and he gave me a little bit of a bunker-play lesson yesterday and gave me a couple of tips on my putting on Tuesday on a slight adjustment on my set up.”

McDowell is clearly taking heed of the advice, following up an opening round of 68 with the lowest score of the tournament at Pinx Golf Club on Jeju Island, South Korea.

Four birdies in the first six holes led to a four-under 32 at the turn before an eagle on the par-five 10th, a three on the par-four 12th and a birdie at the last.

Bjorn also made a blistering start, carding seven threes in a row in a front nine of 30 before the run was halted with a bogey five on the eighth.

Three further birdies and two bogeys followed as Bjorn moved to eight under par alongside American Anthony Kim and Irishman Padraig Harrington, who was in the last group to finish as darkness descended at 7pm local time.

Open champion Harrington, who maintained he is lacking sharpness after just five tournaments this year, was relieved to complete his second round and avoid waking up at 4.45am.

“It made a big difference to get those last couple of holes played,” he said. “It was nice to get teed off on 18 and know you were definitely getting finished.

“On the 18th green when we were putting, I think we were all putting somewhat from memory.

“Eight under par, 36 holes to go – I’m well in there.”

India’s Jeev Milkha Singh, playing alongside Harrington, carded 66 and Sweden’s Johan Edfors, who also finished late on, signed for a 65 to go joint second at 10-under, while Ireland’s Paul McGinley and South Korea’s Kim Hyung-tae were three shots behind on nine under.

The start of the second round was suspended due to high winds, with 47 players set to resume at 7.45am (22.45 Irish time) on Saturday (Friday), and McDowell admitted he was fortunate with the weather and lucky to avoid an early resumption.

“We got very lucky with the weather this afternoon,” said McDowell. “It was blowing 30mph when we teed off, so much so that I drove it on to the first green.

“Then we stood on the third tee and the wind just dropped and we probably had the best of the day in the end.”

Bjorn feels he enjoys a mutually beneficial relationship with McDowell.

“It’s one of those days,” said Bjorn. “We enjoy each other’s company, and when things are going well, you feed off each other and all of the sudden the golf course is not difficult.

“Graeme played awesomely today. It’s easy when you play with someone who gets off to a start like that. He played a solid round of golf and got the rewards.”

American Anthony Kim, the son of South Korean immigrants to the US, moved into an ominous position with a second successive 68.

The 22-year-old was playing alongside home favourite KJ Choi and was buoyed by the warm support from a partisan gallery, carding birdies at the first – his 10th – the fourth, the fifth and the ninth for an incoming score of 32.

“I’m very happy with how I played, because it was probably the toughest round I’ve played this year,” said Kim. “To get out of there bogey-free was a really good round.”

Rory McIlroy, from Holywood, endured a mixed round of 71 with four birdies and three bogeys and was set to miss the cut.

The 18-year-old, who was tied for 115th place following an opening round of 76, was three-over for the tournament. A sensational eight-under-par 64 fired Graeme McDowell into the clubhouse lead at the Ballantine’s Championship – and he revealed he gained some extra help from playing partner Thomas Bjorn who also moved into contention with a 66.

The 28-year-old from Portrush played the opening two rounds alongside the 37-year-old Dane, who has represented Europe in two Ryder Cups, and reaped the benefits of some additional tuition.

“We’ve been helping each other out a little bit in and around the greens this week,” said McDowell.

“We’ve been practising a little bit together and he gave me a little bit of a bunker-play lesson yesterday and gave me a couple of tips on my putting on Tuesday on a slight adjustment on my set up.”

McDowell is clearly taking heed of the advice, following up an opening round of 68 with the lowest score of the tournament at Pinx Golf Club on Jeju Island, South Korea.

Four birdies in the first six holes led to a four-under 32 at the turn before an eagle on the par-five 10th, a three on the par-four 12th and a birdie at the last.

Bjorn also made a blistering start, carding seven threes in a row in a front nine of 30 before the run was halted with a bogey five on the eighth.

Three further birdies and two bogeys followed as Bjorn moved to eight under par alongside American Anthony Kim and Irishman Padraig Harrington, who was in the last group to finish as darkness descended at 7pm local time.

Open champion Harrington, who maintained he is lacking sharpness after just five tournaments this year, was relieved to complete his second round and avoid waking up at 4.45am.

“It made a big difference to get those last couple of holes played,” he said. “It was nice to get teed off on 18 and know you were definitely getting finished.

“On the 18th green when we were putting, I think we were all putting somewhat from memory.

“Eight under par, 36 holes to go – I’m well in there.”

India’s Jeev Milkha Singh, playing alongside Harrington, carded 66 and Sweden’s Johan Edfors, who also finished late on, signed for a 65 to go joint second at 10-under, while Ireland’s Paul McGinley and South Korea’s Kim Hyung-tae were three shots behind on nine under.

The start of the second round was suspended due to high winds, with 47 players set to resume at 7.45am (22.45 Irish time) on Saturday (Friday), and McDowell admitted he was fortunate with the weather and lucky to avoid an early resumption.

“We got very lucky with the weather this afternoon,” said McDowell. “It was blowing 30mph when we teed off, so much so that I drove it on to the first green.

“Then we stood on the third tee and the wind just dropped and we probably had the best of the day in the end.”

Bjorn feels he enjoys a mutually beneficial relationship with McDowell.

“It’s one of those days,” said Bjorn. “We enjoy each other’s company, and when things are going well, you feed off each other and all of the sudden the golf course is not difficult.

“Graeme played awesomely today. It’s easy when you play with someone who gets off to a start like that. He played a solid round of golf and got the rewards.”

American Anthony Kim, the son of South Korean immigrants to the US, moved into an ominous position with a second successive 68.

The 22-year-old was playing alongside home favourite KJ Choi and was buoyed by the warm support from a partisan gallery, carding birdies at the first – his 10th – the fourth, the fifth and the ninth for an incoming score of 32.

“I’m very happy with how I played, because it was probably the toughest round I’ve played this year,” said Kim. “To get out of there bogey-free was a really good round.”

Rory McIlroy, from Holywood, endured a mixed round of 71 with four birdies and three bogeys and was set to miss the cut.

The 18-year-old, who was tied for 115th place following an opening round of 76, was three-over for the tournament.