Irish rookie Graeme McDowell has stormed to the top of the Volvo Scandinavian Masters leaderboard after a scintillating opening round in Stockholm.
The Rathmore man, who relied on a sponsor’s invitation to compete this week, posted a breathtaking 64 to break the course record and claim the outright lead at seven under par ahead of Australia’s Adam Scott.
Having only entered the professional ranks earlier this year, today’s score was a remarkable achievement from a talent tipped for greatness.
McDowell, the top ranked player on the collegiate circuit in the US last year, produced a flawless display of golf at the Kungsängen with seven birdies and not a single blemish on his card.
Starting on the back nine, the University of Alabama graduate parred his opening four holes before grabbing his first birdie on the 14th.
Having reached the turn at two-under, McDowell went on to cover the front nine in 31 shots, finishing birdie, birdie to claim the record.
While the former Walker Cup player, still bidding to gain his full tour card for next season, will be taking it one round at a time, he will be fully aware that a win this week, no mean feat for a fledging pro, would gain a two-year exemption on the main European Tour.
The lions share of the €1.9 million prize fund on offer would also catapult him up the order of merit while a top ten finish would qualify him to compete at next weeks Wales Open.
David Higgins was unable to emulate McDowell’s heroics, slumping to a disappointing five over par total while Rona Rafferty, the last of the three Irish players to take to the course, was level par through two holes.
Elsewhere, Colin Montgomerie recovered from a poor start to birdie the last two holes and finish one under in the defence of his last remaining title.
Crowd favourite Jesper Parnevik, a regular fixture at this event, is level par after four holes.