Three double bogeys for McDowell in New Orleans
Reigning US Open champion Graeme McDowell carded three double bogeys at the Zurich Classic of New Orleans to finish one over par for the day.
Bubba Watson of the United States and Australian Matt Jones are joint leaders.
The 32-year-old Watson, already a winner this year at the Farmers Insurance Open in California in January, stormed into contention for a third career PGA Tour title, although his round began in inauspicious fashion as he bogeyed the par-four first.
His form picked up with four birdies on the front nine and he followed that up with a birdie at 10, an eagle at the par-five 11th and another birdie at 16, with a bogey at 14 leaving him six under par.
He was joined on that mark by Jones, the 31-year-old Sydney-born player firing eight birdies against two bogeys.
Six players were in a tie for third at five under par, including 2001 Open champion David Duval.
