Less than a week after his big-money win on the banks of Loch Lomond, Graeme McDowell was back at the business end of the leaderboard on the opening day of the British Open.
On a day when many major aspirations were blown away on the Lancashire coast, McDowell - with a game honed on the links of Portrush - proved to be rock solid with a one-under round of 69 giving him a share of the clubhouse lead.
McDowell enjoyed slightly better conditions than those out at the crack of dawn but was still faced with a gusting wind. That he carded just one bogey bears testament to his ability to shape the ball in this kind of environment.
Birdies at the final two holes meant McDowell joined Rocco Mediate had in setting the target, the man who pushed Woods to the 19th extra hole at Torrey Pines having already reached the sanctuary of the clubhouse. And the pair were later joined by Australian Robert Allenby.
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.
"I sat having my breakfast today thinking 'do I have to have to go out in this?' but I got lucky. 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."
Of the other Irish contenders in the field, Padraig Harrington is next best on four-over and while a 74 with two closing bogeys might not sound great, he had, of course, been doubtful with a wrist injury before the start and in the conditions it was no mean effort.
Philip Walton was three further three back on seven-over and Damien McGrane's first taste of the Open was bitter-sweet with a round of 79 leaving him well down the field.
How Phil Mickelson and Ernie Els, sufferers at the hands of Tiger Woods so many times, would have loved to shine in his absence.
However, in the cold, wet and windy conditions that made life so difficult for the early starters the world number two took a nine over par 79 and Els slumped to an 80.
For the South African, winner in Muirfield in 2002, that was his worst-ever score in the championship. Mickelson has had only one worse — an 85 at Birkdale 10 years ago.
Els, who after a decent enough front nine collapsed to an inward 45, did not speak afterwards, but the left-hander commented: "When you shoot 79 on the first day you've got to come back with something pretty cool to get back into it."
His fellow American Jerry Kelly has no hope of that after an 83 and, with only one tee moved forward a mere 10 yards, he let rip at the Royal and Ancient Club just as he did at the United States Golf Association when a green in the 2004 US Open became unplayable.
On that occasion Kelly, having returned an 81, asked: "When are they going to grow a head?" This time he stated: "It's the worst set-up since Shinnecock Hills. It seems they are learning from the USGA."
England's Simon Dyson, round in 82, said: "I can't believe they didn't put the tees forward and I think they'll come under fire."
Peter Dawson, chief executive of the R&A, responded that the wind and the rain were worse than had been predicted and added: "We will have to get better stuff from the Met Office than we have at the moment."
That said, Dawson did not believe that the course was too tough or unfair. "What gets written on the Claret Jug is how many strokes, not how many under par."
Worringly for everybody concerned, the current forecast is for things to get worse before they get better — and if the gusts do indeed reach 45mph on Saturday play may have to be suspended because the balls simply would not stay still on the greens.
Lee Westwood in his 75 had that happen to him on the sixth hole, but seconds later was wearing a big smile because he chipped in.
Sergio Garcia, loser of the play-off to Harrington at Carnoustie a year ago, was among the later starters and finished on two-over.
