Graeme McDowell pleased with 66 at WGC-Bridgestone Invitational
Thursday 6 August 2015 23:36, UK
Graeme McDowell was cautiously optimistic after showing signs of a welcome return to form with a four-under 66 in the opening round of the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational.
McDowell set the pace at Firestone after firing four birdies in a front nine of 31, moving temporarily in to the outright lead with a six-foot gain at the tenth.
After dropping his first shot of the day on the 12th, the 36-year-old did well to scramble par on the next six holes to remain on four under and stay within one of early pacesetters Danny Lee and Jim Furyk.
“I drove the ball really well over the front nine,” McDowell said. “A few of the things that I haven’t been doing well lately have been driving and putting the ball and those are usually two of my go-to strengths.
“I hit it in trouble a couple of times on the back nine, but the fairways are a little narrow in places and if you miss them with the greens being as firm as they are you’re going to find yourself in a little bit of trouble.”
The Northern Irishman has managed just one top-10 finish on either side of the Atlantic this year, a share of ninth place in the early-season Omega Dubai Desert Classic.
Although a poor 2015 has seen him drop outside of the world's top 50, McDowell remains confident an improvement in results could be on its way.
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“The confidence should come back pretty quickly,” he added. “One 66 isn’t going to do it, I’m going to need a few.
“The putter was a lot more solid today. I know to what to do when getting on the board, it’s just a case of trusting my swing and continue doing what I’m doing.“
Good break
Paul Casey is part of the group three shots off the pace after carding four birdies and two bogeys in a two-under 68, picking up two shots from his opening three holes before posting a blemish-free back nine.
Casey came to Firestone off the back of a two-week holiday and admitted that, considering his lack of practice, he was pleasantly surprised by his solid start to the week.
"I had no clue what was going on," Casey joked. "It was a genuine two weeks off and I had not touched a club so it was panic mode the last couple of days trying to get some practice in.
"It's the firmest I have seen this golf course in years. Typically it has been very wet, easy to throw the ball and stick it on the fairways and greens and it's made this course much wider than it was today. I like it like this - it's a little bit like playing a major."
Casey has climbed back to world No 26 thanks to an excellent season on the PGA Tour, which has seen him lose out in two play-offs and record four other top-10 finishes.
"Although I have had opportunities to win, I don't feel disappointed with the way that I have played," the 38-year-old added. "Even though I didn't play the play-off like I wanted at the Travelers Championship, the final round was stellar and one of the best I have played in a long time.
"I feel like I am trending in the right direction and have still got time to get a win before the season is out. I am not looking back on the missed opportunities; I am very much focusing forward."
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