McDowell’s Open charge

GRAEME McDOWELL’S bid to secure a place in the historic Open that will take place in his home town of Portrush in July got off to a great start yesterday. The forgotten man of the European game, 259th in the world and without an exempt spot to play in Northern Ireland, shot a first-round 68 in the Arnold Palmer Invitational at Bay Hill. This just happens to be the first year the event has been part of the Open qualifying series, so there are three spots available here for Portrush for the leading non-exempt trio. McDowell was holding on to one of those spots after a four-underpar round that left him in third place following the completion of the morning wave, three shots behind the early leader, Rafa Cabrera Bello from Spain. It is a scenario so perfect, no wonder McDowell is doing his level best not to think too much about it. He said: ‘Historically, I’ve not done a very good job with a gun to my head so it’s something I’m desperately trying to keep at the back of my mind. ‘I’m much better thinking about all the good golf I played, and the fact I feel close to playing well again. I just need a bit of belief.’