Golf:Graeme McDowell closed his round with two consecutive birdies to ensure he's not bringing up the rear after the first 18 holes of the 2010 PGA Grand Slam of Golf at The Port Royal Golf Course in Bermuda.
The US Open champion, however, is five off the pace set by late inclusion David Toms and four behind another stand-in Ernie Els. Germany’s Martin Kaymer, the only other major winner in the four-man field, is two adrift of McDowell after he signed for a three-over-par 74.
McDowell’s 72 came despite a disastrous 11th. The Ryder Cup hero was one under at the time and bunkered his approach before thinning his third shot out of bounds. The 436-yard par-four cost him a triple-bogey seven and he dropped another shot on the next before coming back with two closing birdies.
The event was supposed to be between the winners of this season’s four majors, but Els came in for Masters champion Phil Mickelson and then Toms was contacted after Open champion Louis Oosthuizen stepped into a pothole and injured an ankle.
The American returned a five-under-par 67, but Els birdied the last to move right onto his heels.
First prize is €427,000, the runner-up earns €213,400, third place is worth €177,000 and even the player finishing last takes home €142,000.