Graeme McDowell of Northern Ireland shot 5-under-par 66 and tied for the first-round lead with Matt Every in the RBC Heritage at Harbour Town Golf Links in Hilton Head Island, S.C., where Jordan Spieth struggled in his first start since winning the Masters.
G-Mac, who won this tournament in 2013, made a bogey on the first hole but had a spotless scorecard the rest of the way, carding three birdies on each nine.
“I got off to a slow start, but made a good (birdie) putt on the second hole that got me going,” said McDowell, who won the 2010 U.S. Open at Pebble Beach. “I drove it well, which I haven’t done this year, my iron play was good and I felt very comfortable on the greens.
“I was just picking a target and hitting it where I wanted. It was nice to draw on some good memories, but there’s a long way to go and I look forward to going out tomorrow and doing the same thing.”
Every, who has won the Arnold Palmer Invitational each of the last two years, had four birdies on the front nine and made his only birdie on the last hole in front of the famous candy-striped lighthouse on Calibogue Sound.
Sang-Moon Bae of South Korea, who captured the Frys.com Open for his second PGA Tour victory to start the 2014-15 season, made his only bogey on the 11th hole and was alone in third after a 67.
Defending champion Matt Kuchar opened with a 68 and was tied for fourth with Scott Langley, Morgan Hoffman, Kevin Kisner and Cameron Smith of Australia.
Spieth, who arrived at Hilton Head following a media blitz in New York after winning at Augusta National last Sunday, made his only birdie on the 15th hole in a round of 74 that left him tied for 93rd.
“I didn’t drive it well, didn’t hit my irons well and the chipping and putting wasn’t there,” said Spieth, who rose to No. 2 in the World Golf Rankings with his Masters victory. “It was just an off day. There are no excuses.
“My legs are a little tired, but I’ve played four weeks in a row before. I should have shot a better round and now I have some work to do (to make the cut).”
Spieth has finished first or second in each of his last four tournaments, also winning the Valspar Championship, and he had a streak of 16 consecutive rounds under par come to an end.
