After the ‘comfort’ of his opening day 72 Graeme McDowell reckons his followers should jump at Las Vegas odds of 66 – 1 for the Ulsterman to win this week’s Masters.
McDowell’s level par start is his second-best Augusta opener since starting with a 79 on debut in 2005.
The former US Open winner, who this week is carrying Masters badge No. 66, began his green jacket quest with nine straight pars before back-to-back bogeys at 10 and 11 ahead of his only birdies at 13 and 17.
“I saw that heading into this week Vegas has me at 66-1 and I might just have a bit of that now given how well I felt today,” he said smiling.
Graeme McDowell reckons he’s good Masters odds at 66-1.
“I just felt good out there. I wasn’t nervous on the first tee. I was very happy on the first tee. Like I’ve said before, I’m trying to embrace this tournament.
“It’s not a perfect golf course for me, but if I can play well and have some fun and enjoy the challenge.
“I hit some nice shots out there today. Generally, I actually hit some nice shots today. I had some fun. I drove the ball great on the front nine. There’s some good stuff. Like I say, just couldn’t seem to get the ball close to the hole.”
McDowell’s only disappointment was three-putting the downhill par five, second, along with the downhill par four, 10th hole and the par five 15th from 40-feet.
“So apart from those I generally felt comfortable and this is probably the most comfortable I felt around this golf course,” he said.
“I didn’t try to overdo it in practice and didn’t really try to, you know, over sort of perfectionize my practice rounds and fall in love with where am I supposed to be, where am I trying to be.
“I know this course now; you play it well, you hit it to your spots and you chip and you putt and you try to enjoy the test for what it is. It’s a challenge. It’s going to eat you up. It’s going to throw you bad breaks. That’s just Augusta.
“Bad shots are going to catch slopes and go close, and good shots are going to catch slopes and go far away. That’s just Augusta.
“So I tried to embrace it and have fun with it this morning and generally I did that well today.
“If was any frustration today, it was that three-putt on 15.”
And McDowell will have a rival Ryder Cup observer in USA Captain, Tom Watson competing in Hilton Head next week when McDowell defends his RBC Heritage title.
Watson also indicated that with some six months to the Ryder Cup he is adding more regular PGA Tour events to his schedule to get more familiar with those likely to make the USA Team
“I’m going to play the Heritage next week, which I haven’t played in years and the reason is I want to go see some of the I’ll be able to see them at the Greenbrier Classic, I’ll be able to see them at the Open Championship, and the GA,” he said.
Watson revealed he also will be in Scotland in the week prior the British Open to play a round on the PGA Centenary Course at Gleneagles.
