McDowell wakes up from his slumber

Golf – Austrian Open:Just when the lethargy of a month-long lay-off looked to have taken hold, Graeme McDowell wiped the sleep from his eyes and got down to business to get within four shots of the overnight lead on the opening day of the €750,000 Austrian Open.

The US Open champion and fellow Ryder Cup player, Miguel Angel Jimenez, are the standout names in this week's less than stellar field. Mind you, tell that to the guys fighting to retain their playing rights for next season and they will gladly accept the €125,000 first prize - and one year exemption - thank you very much.

For McDowell this week is all about getting rid of the "rustiness" in his game after such a long lay-off. Next week time will be spent with his coach as part of the fine-tuning for a certain team event at Celtic Manor.

The 31-year-old's return to competitive action couldn't have started much worse as he picked up a couple of bogeys in his first three holes.

He steadied the ship to reach the turn in two over before finally greasing the wheels with no less than five birdies and no dropped shots on the back nine. A game of two halves, no doubt.

"That start was absolutely awful, the swing I made on three was a disaster and it looked it was going to be one of those days," said McDowell after his three under 69 to be four off the lead held by little-known George Coetzee from South Africa.

"I hung tough and the back nine here is where you can make a score and thankfully my short game and putting were good so I was able to make a few birdies.

"I like the way the course is set up, it's not just a case of pulling-out the driver every time; you’ve to plot your way round the course."

The major winner also had playing partner Gonzalo Fernandez-Castano (68) to thank for helping him along the Diamond Country Club layout in Atzenbrugg.

"Gonzo played great and sometimes that helps because I was able to slip-stream him.

"After the time off it was important to get a card back in my hand and play some competitive golf. I have more time off next week and will do some work with my coach to make sure everything is in good shape for the Ryder Cup.

"It's a case of shaking off the rust and getting four good rounds under my belt before heading to Wales."

Coetzee was an early starter from the 10th tee and immediately hit the ground running. Four consecutive birdies made it the perfect start before another arrived at the 16th, his seventh, and then his only dropped shot of the day came at the ninth to turn in 32.

The numbers just got better on the front side as three birdies in four holes from the fourth set the 24-year-old on his way to an opening seven under 65.

That left Coetzee, who is 142nd on the money list and in need of moving inside the top 115 to keep his card, one ahead of a resurgent Jose Manuel Lara from Spain and Australia's Terry Pilkardaris.

McDowell wasn’t best of the four Irish players in the field as Damien McGrane (67) found his touch mid round to be fourth on five under. The Meath pro made seven birdies in 11 holes but they were bookended with bogeys at the second and 17th.

Simon Thornton also made a bright start to join McDowell on three under with a card showing five birdies against two bogeys.

The 33-year-old's situation may not be as precarious as Gary Murphy's but both have their own battles to secure their tour cards for next season. Thornton is 145th on the money list while Murphy is a lowly 255th and an opening 73 was not the start the Kilkenny pro was looking for. He really needs to win between now and the end of the season to avoid a trip to Qualifying School.

Jimenez opened with a level par 72, one better than former British Open champion Todd Hamilton.