“I would have won more golf tournaments in my career if I could play Valderrama every week”.
Great words from Graham McDowell who revelled early in the sauna-like and windy conditions before the famed Valderrama course bit back on day one of the inaugural LIV Golf Valderrama in Spain.
McDowell, who teed-off from the 12th hole, grabbed four birdies in 13 holes but let slip his hard-earned efforts with three bogeys over his closing five.
It left him sharing 15th place but then only four shots from the front with two rounds to play.
The American duo of Dustin Johnson and Jason Kokrak lead the way in the 58-player, $US25m event recording four-under 68s, and with only 14 players managing to break par on the famed Andalucian course.
Fans flocked to the course affectionately known as ‘Europe’s Augusta’, so much so the range was packed with still three hours before the 1.15pm local time shotgun start.
There was the sight of Spanish dancers delighting everyone on the first tee and with the crowd warming to not only some of the world’s best golfers but also the music and many off-course activities in temperatures nudging close to 40 degrees Celsius
For McDowell it was a first Valderrrama showing since finishing 54th and last among those who made the halfway cut at the 2011 Andalucian Masters, and G Mac ending that campaign with horror weekend rounds of 81 and 82.
A year earlier, McDowell enjoyed the walk up the last in capturing a third win, and in a 2010 season capped by victory in the U.S. Open.
“I was three-under early but dropped a couple of shots to finish level and while a disappointing finish, I played really well,” he said.
“I did all the hard work when it was windy and then when the wind dropped, I made a couple of bogeys.
“Thought that’s Valderrama and you do not have to do a whole lot wrong to make mistakes here. The course is just a great test of golf and I am really happy with the manner I controlled the golf ball.
“Looking at the board, and with 36-holes to play, I am only four back but then this golf course is going to continue to test your patience, your game plan.
“That’s great for me and while it is a stressful golf course for me, I wish I could play a golf course like this every week.
“I would have probably won more golf tournaments in my career, if every golf course looked like this one”.
McDowell singled out his birdies at the 17th and 18th holes, holing respective putts of 10-feet and then after a cracking drive, he landed his second to eight feet for birde as the highlights of his opening round.
