Maybe it was the streak of Augusta green in his attire but Northern Ireland’s Graeme McDowell managed to break 70 not only for a first time in six years on the opening day of the Masters but also for only the sixth time in 19 rounds of the Masters course.

The former US Open winner shot a one under par 71 that included five birdies and just one less bogey.

And while it was just one of a handful of rounds under par for McDowell his round since a round of 69 on day one of the 2008 Masters.

In fact, McDowell in eight prior Masters showings has managed to make the cut twice in 2009 and 2012 while the past two years he has missed the cut with respective five over par (2013) and six over par (2014) totals.

Graeme McDowell on route to shooting a 71 in the 79th Masters.

“I felt very in control of my emotions all day,” he said.

“I tried to go out there and execute a conservative game plan, not take too many shots on, within reason, you know, because it’s hard not to be aware of the fact that the scoring was low. And the greens are very receptive. And there was a score out there.

“You see Jordan Spieth making nine birdies behind me. And you’re trying to execute a conservative game plan, but at the same time you’ve got to make some birdies. And there were a few too many mistakes, but there were enough birdies to keep things good.

“The good things is I putted okay today.

“It wasn’t a special putting round, but it was a real solid putting round. And that’s kind of more what I expect of myself on these type of greens.

“And like I spoke about in practice, that was really my kind of concentration. And I was focusing especially on putting. I putted well today. These greens really __ there are some nuances in them that you have to know. There’s a lot of course knowledge involved. So I hit some good putts, knowing what they were going to do and I still had a few that’s just this golf course.”

And when asked if in the past McDowell may have arrived to Augusta not showing the Masters the course all the respect it deserves given he has missed the cut the past two years he remarked: “I never felt like I came into this week negative. But I do feel that I get frustrated on this golf course. And perhaps I’ve been a little bit, I don’t know __ really the golf course kind of beat me down little bit.

“So today I tried to be very kind of emotionally level. And just, you know, play within my strengths and not take too many shots on, tee shots off 13, I’m hitting 3_wood off there, rather than hitting a golf shot that makes me very uncomfortable.

“I played the par 5s conservative today and made a few birdies and I’ve got to keep that kind of attitude going, keep as emotionally level as I possibly can be.”