McDowell toils as Mickelson rediscovers form at Bay Hill

 

Graeme McDowell had a day to forget at the Arnold Palmer Invitational after shooting an opening round of 80.

The Northern Irishman endured a miserable day in Orlando as he carded six bogeys and a triple bogey as he ended the day 14 shots behind the leader Spencer Levin.
But it was a better day for Phil Mickelson, who carded a two-under round of 70 to sit tied for fourth in a group that also included fellow American Bubba Watson and Martin Laird, from Scotland.
American pair Rickie Fowler and Hunter Mahan were tied for second after they both finished on three-under while Tiger Woods had a mixed day, ending on one-over after a bogey on the last.
Levin, recorded six birdies in a bogey-free round, but it was McDowell's performance that attracted most of the headlines as he posted his highest ever score outside the majors on the PGA Tour.
"I got it all out of my system today," he was quoted as saying on the official PGA Tour website. "There's not really an explanation. My long game's kind of been a little off lately.

I didn't drive it particularly well, my iron play was pretty weak and I putted awful
--Graeme McDowell

"Disappointing, really, not exactly what I had in mind and 80 is pretty awesome stuff. You know, this is a tough golf course and you really want be on top of your game out there and I was on top of nothing today.
"I didn't drive it particularly well, my iron play was pretty weak and I putted awful. It's back to the drawing board. I have two weeks to get ready for Augusta and that's the priority right now."
Mickelson responded to his worst finish for seven months at the WGC-Cadillac Championship by carding two birdies in strong winds on the Orlando course.
He said: "Driving in a severe straight cross wind is tough and the second thing that's tough is putting because this wind will affect it."
On the European Tour, there was a five-way tie for the lead after the opening round of the Andalucia Open in Spain.
Johan Edfors, Oscar Floren and Rikard Karlberg, from Sweden, were joined on five-under by English duo Robert Rock and Jamie Elson.
Rock is still searching for his first victory in more than 200 European Tour events and told the European Tour website: "I've been playing good but not getting on any run of birdies or building any momentum."

Scotland's Paul Lawrie lead a group of five players on four-under.