No back flips, no somersaults. Just an acceptance from Graeme McDowell and Paul McGinley that the scorecards authenticated and handed into the recorder with their signatures attached bore testimony to their hard but productive graft during the toughest conditions of yesterday's first round.

McDowell, who no longer feels like a kid in a candy shop in these major championships, drove the green on the last, missed his eagle putt but tapped in for a birdie and a round of three-under-par 69 that confirmed his maturity.

"I didn't feel like I controlled the ball as well as I'd like to," he confessed, "(but) it's nice to not play well and get it around. My short game has improved to the point I can salvage those sort of rounds."

Similarly, there was immense satisfaction for McGinley, who opened with a 70 that finally suggested his recent poor run of form has been overcome.

"It was nice to play well. I certainly had a bit of adrenalin starting off. I haven't been playing very well in recent weeks and my game went up a couple of notches compared to where it has been."

So, all in all, a mood of contentment from the two men leading the Irish challenge, with McDowell demonstrating considerable fortitude in bouncing back from his only two bogeys with immediate birdies.

"I didn't find it easy out there, but my pace putting was the key. I pace-putted really well, which is what you have to do," said the 25-year-old from Portrush, competing in only his second British Open.

Before heading to the course yesterday, McDowell switched on his television to discover that Woods was seven under through 12 holes. "I was thinking he was going to be a tough guy to catch, but I executed my game plan really well. I'm happy to be in touch with the leaders."

That game plan involved putting the ball into play off the tee, avoiding trouble. "If you can get your tee-shot in play, this golf course is pretty straightforward. The main part of the game plan is really working out how best to position yourself on the fairway," suggested McDowell, who had four birdies and two bogeys in his round.

The bogeys came at the eighth and the 13th, but on each occasion he bounced back. On the ninth, a par four of 352 yards, he drove to the back of the green and his chip for eagle horseshoed out, while on the 14th he holed an eight-footer for birdie.

McGinley got off to a flying start, holing from 15 feet on the first. It could have been even better, as he had a four-footer for a birdie on the second. But he missed. Still, he remained focused and had a round that consisted of some very good shot-making, typified by his seven-iron approach into the treacherous 17th. There, he drew the ball in, skirting the Road Hole bunker, to run up to 15 feet from the flag. He sank the birdie putt.

"Yes, I'm happy, that's a good score. I feel I've got some ball control back. I hit a lot of good shots, a lot of good cut shots, a lot of good draw shots, a lot of good whole shots, a lot of punches under the wind.

"My shot-making was good, and my game certainly went up quite a few notches."

The only hole that caused him any undue concern was the 12th.

"I don't know how to play that hole, I really have no idea. If I was Tiger Woods or Sergio Garcia, it is playable. You just smash the driver and get it onto the green. For me, it could be a case of playing five-iron, seven-iron. It's just a really difficult hole for me."

Generally, the mood was one of a job well done, but unfinished.