The trio of Graeme McDowell, Sergio Garcia and Freddie Jacobson sent the European flag to the top of the mast on a near windless opener to the WGC – Cadillac Championship.
The trio shot six under par 66s to join six-time Cadillac champion Tiger Woods and reigning Masters champion Bubba Watson tied for the lead late on the first day of the elite 65-player event in Miami.
Graeme McDowell shoots a 66 to go to the top of the board with his lowest-ever WGC – Cadillac C’ship round. (Photo – Fran Caffrey/www.golffile.ie)
McDowell, who indicated he played just one practice round, tamed the Blue Monster with his equal lowest-ever score of a six under par 66 in 17 rounds of the $8.75m tournament.
The former US Open winner had shot a 66 on the final day of the 2010 event, and in also securing his best finish of sixth.
“It was fairly benign conditions today and the golf course was about as easy as it could be,” said McDowell.
“The greens were firm and fast. Pins were tucked away in places. But, you know, it was kind of there for the taking, if you play good golf today.
“The greens are about as good as I’ve ever seen them here. They are rolling very true, not a lot of grain on them. And there’s not huge amounts of rough. You know, it takes a little bit of the control out of things, but the rough is not as severe as it’s been in years gone past. It was there for the taking a little bit, but you had to hit good shots.
“Yesterday’s practice round (in strong winds) was probably about a 9 and a half I would say. It was tough. I flew in Tuesday night. Wednesday was my prep day, and you know, thankfully we’ve been here many times and we’ve seen this golf course in all sorts of conditions.
“So I wasn’t too stressed out when the wind dropped to nothing today. But it’s always a good test of golf here.”
Garcia bettered his previous lowest score at Doral by two shots and highlighting his 2013 first round by starting with a pair of birdies.
And Jacobson capped his round with two eagles, at the par five 8th and 10th holes, with his 66 only the second time in 13 rounds of the event the US-based Swede has broken 70.
