I got lucky, says McDowell

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Winner of the Scottish Open last Sunday, the 28-year-old Northern Irishman had the luck of the draw to be out late as conditions eased and with a one under par 69 joined American Rocco Mediate and Australian Robert Allenby in the clubhouse lead.

He said: "I sat having my breakfast thinking 'do I have to have to go out in this?' but I got lucky."

Now 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.

One big difference, of course, is that there is no Tiger Woods to "leave us all in the dust", but the Portrush golfer believes he is far more capable of handling it regardless of the opposition.

"I felt a bit like a rabbit in the headlights then," he said, recalling his fall from first to 61st.

"I didn't have a whole lot of belief in myself but I certainly feel a different player.

"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."

McDowell, Mediate and Allenby all birdied the two closing holes - two of only four downwind - to break par. And all three did it after 5.30pm to underline the importance of the tee-off times.