Graeme McDowell found himself introduced on the first tee as the 2010 U.S. Open winner but then 14 years on it proved a real roller-coaster return to Winged Foot for the Irishman in posting a six-over par 76.
McDowell, and among some 15 to have teed-up in the 2006 U.S. Open, produced a round that was five shots more than his 71 on day one of the 14-years ago at Winged Foot.
He was virtually playing catch-up in doubling the fourth hole and while he got back to one-over at the turn, McDowell then dropped three shots in four holes from the 11th hole to be then just inside the top-60 as the afternoon half of the field was teeing-off.
McDowell then bogeyed 14 and his 16th and 17th holes and headed to the clubhouse just outside the top-100 and with American Ryan Vermeer then in last place nine-over.
“I just kind of hung in there well the front nine, kind of had it 1-over, birdied 9, hit a great shot on 10 to 12 feet, kind of missed that, and made a bogey with a wedge in my hand on 11, and then just couldn’t get it in the fairway after that,” he said.
“I missed the 12th fairway, I missed the 14th fairway, I missed the 15th fairway, I missed the 16th fairway, missed the 17th fairway.
“I made the mistakes that you just can’t make out here really, which is not getting the ball in play off the tee. I’ve got a lot of work to do tomorrow.
“The golf course was kind of there for the taking as far as Winged Foot was going to be there for the taking this morning, but like I say, just kind of reset and try and get back out there tomorrow, see if I can’t sneak in for the weekend and do a little damage on the weekend.
“Saying that, I certainly can’t stand here and blame the golf course in any way, shape or form this morning.
“It was certainly down to just the fact that I did not drive the ball well, and like I say, I’ve got a bit of work to do between now and tomorrow, but I’m upbeat about a lot of the things that I’m doing and I’ve just got to try and keep pushing forward.”
