Graeme McDowell kissed and made-up with Castle Stuart posting a rock solid 70 on the opening day of a windswept Aberdeen Asset Management Scottish Open near Inverness.

McDowell clearly benefited from spending last weekend at Royal Troon and taking to the Gil Hanse designed links course to be trailing just a shot from the lead.

Big-hitting Aussie Scott Hend and Chilean Felipe Aguilar, and both competing in next month’s Olympics, share the lead on three-under par and with McDowell among eight players a shot further back.

“I am pretty happy with that as it was a battle out there,” he said.

“But then having two days at Troon were a big help coming into this week and prepared me well for what we were presented with today.”

And after confessing to a case of ‘foot-in-mouth’ disease in criticising the course post 2011, McDowell has clearly kissed and made up with Castle Stuart.

“Coming from a guy who inadvertently criticised this place a few years back not trying to do so, I’m pleasantly surprised by how good the golf course actually is.”

McDowell kisses and makes-up with Castle Stuart. (Photo – www.golfbytourmiss.com)