Graeme McDowell brilliantly delivered Ryder Cup Captain Thomas Bjorn a reminder of his talent taking Route 66 to a share of third place on day one of the 20th Commercial Bank Qatar Masters.
McDowell, and competing in his first event in some 10 weeks, birdied his opening three holes and then four of the next eight before the only the only bogey of his day at his 15th.
It handed the World No. 91 the clubhouse lead before Welshman Bradley Dredge, out in the afternoon half of the draw, ended the round leading by a shot with an eight under par 64 in the surprisingly calm conditions.
Finland’s Mikko Korhonen is next best in posting a seven under par 65.
Greystone’s Paul Dunne, and contesting the event for a first occasion, is among eight players shooting a round of a five under par 67.
Graeme McDowell pulls a club from the bag during an opening round of 66 on day one of Commercial Bank Qatar Masters. (Photo – European Tour.com)
“My expectations were fairly low, I suppose, coming in,” said Dredge.
“My game felt a little bit rusty the last week or so and I was expecting tougher conditions.
“Now that I’ve got off to a good start, I’ve got to keep my expectations in check and not get too far ahead of myself and just keep calm and keep enjoying myself and stay patient and see what happens.”
McDowell’s effort is his lowest first round to a New Year in his now 16-year pro career since shooting the same score of 66 to kick-start his 2011 year at the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship.
McDowell is contesting the Qatar event for a first occasion in five years and also for a fifth time in his career since shooting a 75 on his Doha debut in 2003.
Wearing a very deep pink coloured shirt, McDowell added plenty of his own colour to the desert layout.
“There’s always a little bit of anticipation in your first tournament of the year but very very happy with this start,” he said.
“It is only round one and a long way to go.
“But I was very happy with that as I think the front nine probably plays a little tougher than the back nine on this golf course.
“They were incredibly benign conditions for Doha. You don’t typically get the wind this calm and it was nice to take advantage of it this morning. I hit some fairways and hit some really nice iron shots and made some putts.
“I felt like I left a few out there so it’s always nice to post a low number and feel like you left a couple on the golf course. I’m looking forward to getting back out there tomorrow. It is only round one and a long way to go.
“I have spent the last seven, eight weeks in Florida and the weather has been perfect.
“So the days of growing up in the wind like I did in Ireland, those days are gone. I’m a little bit more of a spoiled child these days playing golf in the sunshine.
Tuesday afternoon, I practiced here and it was very difficult. Certainly you’re gearing your game for a tough weekend, and it’s a nice surprise when you get benign conditions.”
Dunne also took to the benign conditions with zest grabbing six birdies in his round and like McDowell, just the one bogey.
