Sky Sports.com - The Open

McDowell: birdied the last two holes

In-form Northern Irishman Graeme McDowell carded an opening 69 to share the lead with Rocco Mediate and Robert Allenby after the first round of the Open Championship at Royal Birkdale.

McDowell, who won the Scottish Open last week to virtually ensure a first Ryder Cup appearance in September, took advantage of easing weather conditions to move into a tie alongside American Mediate and Australian Allenby.

All three leaders birdied the two closing holes - two of only four downwind - to become the only players to break par. And all three signed for their cards in the early evening to underline the importance a late tee-off time.

The leaders are a shot clear of two-time former champion Greg Norman, his compatriot Adam Scott and American journeyman Bart Bryant.

Mediate, the 45-year-old who last month took Tiger Woods to a play-off at the US Open, is playing his first Open Championship since Muirfield in 2002.

Despite four wins on the US Tour, Allenby, home in a sparkling 32, does not have a top-six finish to his name in 48 major championship starts in 17 years, going back to his debut on this course in 1991.

Fortunate

But the late starters had to consider themselves fortunate after desperate early conditions caused havoc for some of the pre-tournament favourites.

World number two Phil Mickelson shot a 79 and former champion Ernie Els had his worst round in 18 visits to the Open, an 80.

Lee Westwood had a 75, while defending champion Padraig Harrington went one better despite closing with two bogeys while nursing a wrist injury.

Justin Rose, fourth on this links as a 17-year-old amateur in 1998, matched the Irishman's effort, while Colin Montgomerie will be delighted with his opening 73.

Even better placed is the 53-year-old Greg Norman, watched by his new wife Chris Evert. In his first Open for three years the Australian came in with a level par 70, as did Scott after reaching two under with three to play and then bogeying the 16th and 17th.

Sergio Garcia, beaten in a play-off by Harrington at Carnoustie a year ago, is far from out of it after a level par 72, the same mark as his compatriot Miguel Angel Jimenez and Englishman Ian Poulter.

McDowell, out in front on his own when he started with a 66 at Hoylake two years ago, hopes to show he can cope with the situation far better than he did then.

The 28-year-old from Portrush believes he is far more capable of handling it this time around. "I felt a bit like a rabbit in the headlights then," he said, recalling his fall from first to 61st on his last visit to the Lancashire coast.

"I didn't have a whole lot of belief in myself but I certainly feel a different player. I sat having my breakfast today thinking 'do I have to have to go out in this?' but I got lucky.

"Obviously it's very important to come down from the elation of Sunday and move on but I had the biggest tournament on the planet to get ready for."

As for Mediate, he made light of the conditions. "You've just got to get it done whether it's pretty or ugly. I love it here and it's great to be back," he said.

Miserable

Mickelson had a desperate day in the worst of the conditions, a lost ball at the sixth and a double bogey the low point of his 79.

But the left-hander responded to the supportive galleries throughout and commented: "When you shoot 79 on the first day you've got to come back with something pretty cool to get back into it."

Former world number one Vijay Singh was not so upbeat after his 80. "It was miserable, miserable, miserable," said the Fijian.

But the current forecast is for things to get worse before they get better.

Gusts of 45mph are predicted for Saturday - the prospect of balls moving on the greens throwing up the possibility of a suspension of play.