McDowell takes place in Valderrama field
Graeme McDowell was determined to fight through the pain barrier today when the Volvo Masters began at Valderrama.
The Ulsterman was rated 50-50 on the eve of the event because the rib injury he suffered in a car crash in late July had flared up again.
But after receiving treatment and taking some painkillers McDowell, 51st in the world and desperate to climb into the top 50 by the end of the year to qualify for the Masters next April, was able to hit balls on the driving range.
The 55 players in the event which brings down the curtain on the European tour season were sent off in the first round in reverse order of their Order of Merit position.
That meant that McDowell, 36th on the money list, was off at 11.40am and Colin Montgomerie and Michael Campbell, the two fighting it out for the number one position, were not out until 2.10pm local time.
After nearly two hours’ play the lead was held at only one under par- by England’s Simon Dyson, Scot Stephen Gallacher, Ireland’s Peter Lawrie, Thailand’s Thongchai Jaidee and Dutchman Robert-Jan Derksen.
Former paratrooper Jaidee birdied the second and fourth, but then bogeyed the short sixth in the blustery conditions.
The tournament is restricted to the top 60 on the Order of Merit, but Ernie Els and Trevor Immelman are injured, while Thomas Bjorn is recovering from illness and Retief Goosen and Adam Scott chose not to play.
McDowell's opening drive split the fairway, his pitch landed just beyond the flag and his seven-foot birdie putt dived into the hole for a perfect start.
By then Dyson, 55th on the money list, and Jaidee, 57th, had improved to two under, both going to the turn in 33.
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