Neither McDowell nor playing partners Wayne Hensby and former Open champions Justin Leonard reached the fairway and it cost them two, three and one dropped shots respectively as a result.

The Portrush golfer was scathing in his criticism of the changes to the hole and he will not be alone as many of the field failed to make par four.

“Number four is the stupidest golf hole I have ever played I think,” said McDowell. “We are standing on the tee box and it’s 275 yards to the fairway.

"This morning it was blowing at least 15mph in our faces and the three of us hit great tee shots right down the middle and never had a sniff of the fairway – we were about 20 yards short.

“The alternative is to go across to 15 and if you do that you’ve got 240 yards to a pin which is inaccessible. A five is a good score, a four is a birdie.

“I know the wind dropped later on but when it was blowing against there was nowhere to go. It is not as if it is an easy hole once you can get it in the fairway. The green is very tricky and they have got plenty of great pin positions. There is no need for that tee box back there.

“For an average long-hitter I was not getting near the fairway. I’m not a big fan of that change. It’s nuts. Crazy.

“I would say that hole would average five today, I’d be shocked if it doesn’t because it’s nearly impossible.”

The double-bogey aside, McDowell had a pretty consistent round with 15 pars and birdies at the 15th and 18th to remain three under.