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NEWPORT, Wales (Reuters) - Graeme McDowell enjoyed a happy return to last year's Ryder Cup venue when the U.S. Open champion fired a four-under 67 in the Wales Open first round at Celtic Manor on Thursday.
That left the Northern Irish defending champion three strokes behind leader Keith Horne of South Africa who came home in just 30 shots for a sparkling 64 on his course debut.
McDowell's Ryder Cup team mate Peter Hanson of Sweden held second place after a 65, a stroke better than Britons Steve Webster and Paul Broadhurst and Spaniard Alvaro Velasco.
Hanson and McDowell played together and while McDowell described his round as "decent" he called Hanson's "awesome".
As the pivotal member of Europe's team, McDowell particularly enjoyed playing the 16th hole, where he set up victory for Europe with a 20-foot birdie putt and the 17th where he completed it against Hunter Mahan.
"16 let me down badly today," McDowell told reporters tongue-in-cheek. "I hit it to about 20 feet again and I thought I'd made it but I guess I've used up all my magic on that green."
McDowell did conjure up an eagle-two on the previous hole, however, sinking a 30-foot putt after driving the green.
Hanson reckoned that just seeing his name on his Ryder Cup locker at the club gave him a rush of adrenalin but his key moment came on the 14th, one of the toughest holes.
He holed a 60-foot putt to start a run of four birdies that enabled him to outshoot his Ryder Cup team mate.
While Hanson and McDowell are preparing for the U.S. Open which McDowell won last year following his victory in Wales, Horne will only be able to watch the Congressional action after failing to qualify.
Horne was delighted to have performed so well on his first visit to Celtic Manor, though, and cited the success of three compatriots, 2010 British Open champion Louis Oosthuizen, this year's U.S. Masters winner Charl Schwartzel and recent Spanish Open victor Thomas Aiken, as his inspiration.
"Everybody can see the level they have achieved," he said. "And you're playing against them week-in week-out back home. It does give you the belief that it's possible yourself."
Europe's 2010 Ryder Cup captain Colin Montgomerie marked his return to the scene of his team's triumph with a weary 78.
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That left the Northern Irish defending champion three strokes behind leader Keith Horne of South Africa who came home in just 30 shots for a sparkling 64 on his course debut.
McDowell's Ryder Cup team mate Peter Hanson of Sweden held second place after a 65, a stroke better than Britons Steve Webster and Paul Broadhurst and Spaniard Alvaro Velasco.
Hanson and McDowell played together and while McDowell described his round as "decent" he called Hanson's "awesome".
As the pivotal member of Europe's team, McDowell particularly enjoyed playing the 16th hole, where he set up victory for Europe with a 20-foot birdie putt and the 17th where he completed it against Hunter Mahan.
"16 let me down badly today," McDowell told reporters tongue-in-cheek. "I hit it to about 20 feet again and I thought I'd made it but I guess I've used up all my magic on that green."
McDowell did conjure up an eagle-two on the previous hole, however, sinking a 30-foot putt after driving the green.
Hanson reckoned that just seeing his name on his Ryder Cup locker at the club gave him a rush of adrenalin but his key moment came on the 14th, one of the toughest holes.
He holed a 60-foot putt to start a run of four birdies that enabled him to outshoot his Ryder Cup team mate.
While Hanson and McDowell are preparing for the U.S. Open which McDowell won last year following his victory in Wales, Horne will only be able to watch the Congressional action after failing to qualify.
Horne was delighted to have performed so well on his first visit to Celtic Manor, though, and cited the success of three compatriots, 2010 British Open champion Louis Oosthuizen, this year's U.S. Masters winner Charl Schwartzel and recent Spanish Open victor Thomas Aiken, as his inspiration.
"Everybody can see the level they have achieved," he said. "And you're playing against them week-in week-out back home. It does give you the belief that it's possible yourself."
Europe's 2010 Ryder Cup captain Colin Montgomerie marked his return to the scene of his team's triumph with a weary 78.
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