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Goosen - a 71 in the worst of the weather. Graeme McDowell came out smiling again from a day of wind, rain and cold that left others either battered or furious when the Open Championship began at Royal Birkdale today. Winner of the Scottish Open last Sunday, the 28-year-old Northern Ireland star had the luck of the draw to be out late as conditions eased and with a one-under 69, joined American Rocco Mediate and Australian Robert Allenby in the clubhouse lead. Now 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... [read full story]
