McDowell Finds Route 66

Getty Images

Graeme McDowell enjoyed a welcome return to form on the opening day of the Scottish Open on Thursday.

McDowell’s sole top-10 finish on the European Tour this season came back in February and he missed the cut when bidding for a third successive French Open title last week, a second round of 78 being his worst score in 32 rounds at Le Golf National.

The 35-year-old admitted he needed to “clear his mind” of thoughts about technique and looked to have succeeded with an opening 66 at Gullane, which was marred only by bogeys at the last two holes.

“It’s always disappointing to finish with a couple of bogeys but I played some good stuff today,” said McDowell, who carded four birdies in succession in a front nine of 30 and also birdied the 16th before three-putting the 17th and 18th.

“I drove the ball well and the putter was quite spicy the first 11 or 12 holes before cooling down, but I would have taken 66 before going out and I will take it now.”

McDowell revealed he and coach Pete Cowen had found the solution to his poor form by looking at videos of his swing from 2010, the year he won the US Open at Pebble Beach and holed the winning putt in the Ryder Cup at Celtic Manor.

“I’m trying to get back to basics and we have narrowed my stance and used my body to swing the club how I used to,” McDowell added.

“And it was nice to get back on a course that gives you a few opportunities in benign conditions. I just need a few low numbers to get my belief and confidence back and today will go a long way towards that.”

McDowell was by no means the only player to take advantage of the 7,133-yard par-70 composite course, with American pair Rickie Fowler and Matt Kuchar also finishing four under.

Thorbjorn Olesen had set the clubhouse target on seven under after a flawless 63, with England’s Matthew Nixon, Spain’s Adrian Otaegui and American Ryder Cup player Jimmy Walker on five under.

In a week dominated by Rory McIlroy missing his British Open defence due to an ankle injury suffered playing football, Olesen could sympathise with the world number one after injuring himself getting off a camel in Dubai last year.

“When I had to get down I pulled a muscle in my groin and it took a few weeks before I could walk properly again,” Olesen admitted with a smile.

The 25-year-old also discovered a tendon problem in his left hand over the winter but battled on for four events – missing the cut in the last three – before undergoing surgery at the start of February.

“It’s been a tough time but I keep working on the right things and hopefully it will come,” said Olesen, who lost a play-off for the Mauritius Open in May in his first event back after three months on the sidelines. “I showed today I can still shoot low rounds.

“I hit almost every green – only missing the 18th – and hit a lot of fairways and greens today, which was the key.”

Two birdies in the final five holes helped Pádraig Harrington card a two-under 68

Damien McGrane was in the clubhouse after a round of 69

Michael Hoey signed for a level-par 72.

Paul McGinley got off to a disastrous start, finding himself on four over after two holes following a triple bogey on the opening hole and a bogey on the second to end Thursday on a six-over 76.

Related articles

• 2015 U.S. Open: Tee Times, TV Schedule For Second Round At Chambers Bay
• 'The Fan Morning Show' Holds U.S. Open Draft
• Only 2 golfers have made more money than Dustin Johnson on the PGA Tour since 2010
• Rory McIlroy missing The Open due to injury will be a major disappointment, admits Paul McGinley
• The Latest: Wimbledon to hold minute's silence on Tuesday
• Olesen Shoots 7-Under 63, Takes Early Lead at Scottish Open

Kevin Phelan Leads Africa Open

Getty Images

Kevin Phelan continued his impressive form by taking a one shot clubhouse lead at the Africa Open following an opening round 67.

The Irishman, who finished tied for second at the Joburg Open last week, negotiated the blustery conditions at the East London Golf Club superbly to sit five under.

Starting on the back nine, Phelan dropped his only shot on his second hole, the par four 477 yard 11th.

But the 24 year old responded in emphatic fashion with six birdies, including three consecutively from the fifth, the last of which was completed when he escaped from behind the trees following a disappointing tee shot.

Richard Bland and David Howell, also second last week, are leading the chase following four under par 68s, the former out in front before Phelan's superb late surge.

The Englishman produced three birdies on the front and back nine, but two dropped shots either side of the turn hampered his progress.

Bland said: “I had a little bit of a wobble through the middle, but I bounced back well. I hit a lovely shot into the 12th and made a good putt. On 14 today I hit driver, gap wedge and managed to take advantage of it. It was nice to finish strong.”

Bland would have slipped two off the lead if he had not produced an excellent chip shot to aid a putt for par on the last after over-hitting his approach.

Fellow countryman Howell collected a shot on his second and, despite cancelling that out on the next, four more gains helped his cause.

He said: “I played well and kept the ball in play. I think anything in the 60s is something to be delighted with.”

Scot David Drysdale, another early leader, and Englishman Matthew Fitzpatrick were also among four players two shots off the lead.

Drysdale made a brief charge with an action-packed opening six holes, eagling the par five 509 yard first before collecting three birdies and a bogey, but failed to continue that hot streak and dropped a second shot on the 13th.

Fitzpatrick, starting on the back nine, was first out and his only blemish arrived on his penultimate hole, the eighth, which was the first of two consecutive bogies for Shaun Norris. 

With South Africans winning this event on all five occasions, Norris was leading the home charge on two under after a mixed round that also consisted of six birdies and a double bogey.

Andy Sullivan, aiming to make it a hat-trick of victories in co-sanctioned events this year after winning the South Africa Open and Joburg Open, struggled with a level par 72 with five birdies and the same amount of bogies.

The in-form Englishman, despite being five shots off the lead, will take heart from the fact that he produced a level par opening round last week at the Royal Johannesburg & Kensington Golf Club and still went on to win the event. 

Darren Clarke and Damien McGrane carded rounds of 72.

Michael Hoey and Peter Lawrie finished Thursday on five over par rounds of 77.

Related articles

• Casey and Poulter share lead at Honda Classic
• World No.509 Coetsee stays on course for maiden title
• Harrington wins Honda Classic
• Things Go Better for Lawrie
• Coetsee leads Joburg Open by two
• Coetsee holds 1-shot lead at Joburg Open

FedEx Delay for GMAC

Getty Images

Pádraig Harrington shot a two-under par 68 in the opening round of the FedEx St Jude Classic at TPC Southwind yesterday before play was suspended due to inclement weather. 

The Dubliner, starting on the 10th, a par three, recovered from a brace of bogeys in as many holes with a birdie on the 17th, to turn in one over regulation figures. He then got his round going with three successive birdies from the first to the third holes, finishing with six pars to sign for his 68.

Darren Clarke shot a three over par 73.

Graeme McDowell was level par for the two holes he finished before the bad weather came in.

Ben Crane shot a 7-under 63 Thursday giving him the lead in the suspended first round, as he took advantage of a 3 1/2-hour rain delay that left nearly perfect scoring conditions with no wind and softened greens.

He had five of his seven birdies on his final nine, the last a few minutes before play was suspended because of darkness. 

Sixty players were unable to finish the round. 

Phil Mickelson came to Memphis wanting to tune up for the U.S. Open at Pinehurst by finishing strong. He did just that Thursday. 

Mickelson shot a 3-under 67, birdieing three of his final four holes in windy conditions before the midday thunderstorm softened up TPC Southwind. It was his first round in the 60s since the third round at the Wells Fargo Championship. He hadn't shot below 70 since. 

He missed the cut at The Players Championship and tied for 49th last week in the Memorial following a visit from FBI agents and lingering questions about an insider-trading investigation. Lefty hasn't won in 19 events dating to the British Open and is among the players in Tennessee tuning up for Pinehurst. 

"I did exactly what I need to do and some momentum that I need heading into the U.S. Open," Mickelson said. "Tomorrow's round, the same thing. Finish strong and play a good round." 

Peter Malnati shot a 65, and Billy Horschel also was 5 under with two holes left to play. Retief Goosen and Joe Durant each had a 66, while Stuart Appleby, Zach Johnson and Jason Bohn were on the course at 4 under. Appleby had a hole-in-one on the 157-yard eighth hole, using a 7-iron. That was his 17th hole, and the last one he completed. 

Crane needed only 24 putts for his best round of the season, including a 27-footer for birdie on his final hole at No. 9 with only a handful of people watching because officials closed the course to spectators because of the high winds with the storm. 

"We caught a huge break being on this side of the wave," Crane said. "You know this is ideal Memphis weather. It's as good as it gets. It was calm, barely any wind. The greens softened up. We were able to attack some of the pins." 

Mickelelson, who tied for second at Southwind last year, was among the 53 players who finished before play was delayed. Even with tricky wind Thursday morning, Mickelson said his focus on each shot was much better. He's trying to better visualize the shot and curve his irons so that his approach shots land closer to the hole, giving him more tap-in opportunities. 

Finishing with the three birdies in his final four holes was exactly what he wanted in a round with five birdies and two bogeys. 

He hit his approach from 135 yards on the par-4 sixth to 5 feet and rolled in the birdie putt. He left himself longer putts with a 7-footer on the par-3 eighth and an 11-footer on the par-4 ninth, but knocked them in for his strong finish. 

"I've been struggling with finishing the round strong," Mickelson said. "I had a good round last week on Thursday and then played poorly. To birdie three of the last four made it a great round. That's exactly what I need to do." 

Firm greens made it tough to land balls close, but Goosen credited them with helping him roll in some of his birdie putts. He sunk a couple from 5 feet or closer, but also had a couple birdie putts from 14 feet. Goosen also saved par on No. 7 with a 12-foot putt. 

"The greens are as good as greens as you can get," Goosen said. "The greens are rolling close to 13 on the stimpmeter. They are really good. You hit the right putt, they are going to go in." 

A seven-time winner on the PGA Tour, Goosen hasn't won on tour since 2009. He has two top-10 finishes this year as he continues his comeback from back surgery in August 2012. He tied for third in Memphis in 2011 and said he really likes the course. 

Robert Garrigus withdrew after hurting his wrist in the 18th fairway. He had a 79 that included three bogeys, a double and an 8 on the par-4 17th

Players will resume the second round at 7:00 a.m., with the second round starting approximately 40 minutes later.

Related articles

• You: Ben Crane leads weather-delayed St. Jude Classic with a 63
• Phil Mickelson Opens With 67 in St. Jude Classic
• Phil Mickelson opens with 67 at St. Jude Classic
• What Phil Mickelson can teach us about job searching
• Phil Mickelson opens with 67 in St. Jude Classic
• Mickelson opens with 67 at St. Jude Classic

Clarke Trails Leading Duo

Getty Images

Darren Clarke carded a one under par first round 69 at the McGladrey Classic in Georgia on Thursday, to remain six strokes off the leaders Briny Baird and Brian.

The duo both fired opening-round 63's to sit seven under after fog had delayed play by almost two hours in the morning.

Former US Open champion Webb Simpson was one of three players two shots back alongside fellow American Kevin Kisner and South Korean Seung-yul Noh.

Baird has not recorded a win in his previous 364 appearances on Tour but could break that duck this week after a stunning start at Sea Island.

The 41-year-old recorded a flawless round as he birdied the second, third and fourth holes before hitting another hot streak at the end of his day with further birdies at 14, 15, 16 and 17.

Gay did have a blemish on his card as he dropped a shot on the 12th but he countered that with eight birdies in calm conditions.

Simpson, Noh and Kisner were two behind after firing rounds of 65 and there was a large group behind them on four under including Jonathan Byrd andCamilo Villegas.

Will MacKenzie was the best of the afternoon starters as he sat four under after six holes with former Masters champion Trevor Immelman a further shot back through eight.

Major champions YE Yang, Retief Goosen and Ben Curtis were all on two under having completed their rounds while defending champion Tommy Gainey was level par through four holes.

Related articles

• Clarke Restarts PGA Tour
• McGladrey Classic winner will get more perks
• 2013 Frys.com Open: Tee times, TV schedule for Thursday's round
• Love McGladrey About Clarke
• 2013 McGladrey Classic, Turkish Airlines Open and Australian PGA Championship
• Michael Clarke