Despite taking his temper out on a defenceless bunker rake Graeme McDowell was otherwise pleased with an opening day 70 in the rain-affected Shell Houston Open.
McDowell is contesting the $US 6m event for a first time in six years after previously having taken this week off to practice at Augusta.
But after doubling his third hole on the Redstone course in suburban Humble McDowell had probably wished he was walking Augusta National then the embarrassment of dropping two shots in bizarre manner.
In a manner similar to his antics at the final hole of this year’s Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship, McDowell’s drive landed in a fairway divot from where he thinned his second into a camera tower, and with his ball ricocheting into a water hazard.
“It was my Abu Dhabi redemption as I played that shot earlier this year and it ricocheted off the grandstand and back onto the green from where I grabbed a birdie,” he smiled.
“So, I guess I’m even now as it didn’t come back to six feet this time.”
McDowell superbly regrouped with birdies at his sixth, ninth and then three on the trot from Redstone’s fourth or his 13th.
McDowell then leaked a poor 3-wood from the middle of the fairway at his 17th that came to rest just under the six-inch high lip of a bunker some 40-yards left of the green.
He was tied at the time at three under par with playing partners World No. 3 Lee Westwood and PGA Champion, Keegan Bradley.
However from an awkward stance, and with one foot on the grass and his right foot in the bunker, McDowell proceeded to thin his ball straight over the green and into water.
And you could understand McDowell displaying his frustration in slamming his wedge into the head of a bunker rake.
No damage was done to the rake with McDowell playing a superb chip shot to some six feet and rolling in the bogey putt on route to an eventual round of 70.
“After what happened at my third and also getting a bit too aggressive at the eighth or my 17th all in all it was a solid round of golf,” said McDowell.
“It’s a funny course because you feel like you can go super low but then you still have to hit the shots, and I’m looking forward to playing all four rounds.
“I would have been very happy with three under but I’ll have to settle with a 70.”
But while good friend Rory McIlroy was playing Augusta National on Tuesday, McDowell has joined 37 other players in the Texas field who will also be competing next week in the Masters.
“I’ve come to Houston looking for some confidence ahead of the Masters and just picturing some shots that I will be facing next week.
“The thing that does please me about my game is my iron play because I’m hitting well that high soft flight you need to have in playing Augusta next week.
“It’s a ball flight I never really have not had much in the past going to the Masters so that already pleases me.”
Also McDowell indicated he has resisted an urge to follow triple Augusta winning Phil Mickelson and will pack just the one driver in the bag for the season’s first Major.
Former Masters winner, Angel Cabrera and Sweden’s Carl Pettersson head the event with scores of seven under par 65s.
Padraig Harrington and Darren Clarke were just early into their rounds when play was halted at 1.37pm local time due to a voilent thunderstorm.
And with rain lashing down and causing local flooding in and around suburban Humble, officials decided at 4.45pm local time to abandon play for the day.
Harrington had played just the first while Clarke had played two for both to remain at level par.
