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McDowell struggles badly at Bay Hill

Golf: Graeme McDowell had a day to forget as the US Open champion slumped to an uncharacteristic eight over 80 on the opening…

Graeme McDowell plays his third shot at the 15th hole during the first round of the Arnold Palmer Invitational at Bay Hill in Florida. The US Open Champions slumped to an opening 80. Photograph: David Cannon/Getty Images

Thu Mar 24 2011 - 00:00

Golf:Graeme McDowell had a day to forget as the US Open champion slumped to an uncharacteristic eight over 80 on the opening day of the €4.2 million Arnold Palmer Invitational.

McDowell's round was riddled with no less than six bogeys but the biggest blot on his copybook came by way of a triple bogey eight at the par five sixth. The solitary birdie at the third stood out on his card for all the wrong reasons.

The 31-year-old's round comes as a surprise considering he is one of the hottest players in the game after continuing the major winning form of 2010 into the early stages of the new season. From here all roads, and planning, lead to the US Masters in a couple of week’s time.

"I haven't been very happy with my game for about four weeks," said McDowell. "This may be the wake-up call I need, you know? So it's a good thing really, a reality check for me."

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While McDowell found himself at the bottom of the field at the Bay Hill Club and Lodge in Florida, Rickie Fowler and Hunter Mahan had set early pace before Spencer Levin stormed up the leaderboard to take the outright lead.

Mahan, who McDowell famously defeated in the singles to win he Ryder Cup at Celtic Manor last October, carded a three under 69 to join Fowler in a share of the lead at three under. However they dropped into a share of second when Levin came home with a six under 66.

Fowler (22), played the back nine first and eagled the par five 16th before missing key putts in the latter stages.

"I thought I hit two really good par putts but they just didn't want to go in," he said after his round. "But I felt that today was some of the best I've struck (the ball) all year. I was actually hitting fairways and getting on the green.

"Those putts slipped by but it could have been a really good round versus just a good starting round," he added.

A large chasing pack gathered on two under which included the likes of Phil Mickelson, Bubba Watson and Ian Poulter.

Tiger Woods was one of the late starters at a venue where he has won six times and was level par after 16 holes.

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