G-Mac shows grit in Mexico - seven-birdie comeback from opening double

Graeme McDowell made a good start in Mexico

Graeme McDowell got his 2015-16 season off to a positive start with a gutsy 67 in the  rain-delayed OHL Classic at Mayakoba in Mexico.

The 36-year old from Portrush has suffered a seemingly endless series of blows and slipped from 15th to 85rd in the world over the past 12 months.

But he fought back well from his bad start last night, ending the day tied for 10th, just two shots behind clubhouse leaders Justin Leonard, Aaron Baddeley, Shawn Stefani and Derek Fathaeur, who shot six under 66s for a one-stroke lead over Michael Thompson, D.J. Trajan, Charles Howell III and Patton Kizzire.

He drew a line under his European Tour season as quickly as was decent to wipe the slate clean and start afresh. And while an opening six on the first at El Camaleon in Playa del Carmen might have filled others with portents of doom, his reaction was spectacular.

While he had to put up with a rain delay on his front nine, McDowell birdied the fourth, fifth and sixth and then came back out on a soaked course to birdie the seventh and eighth.

Out in 33, he wasn't quite as prolific on the back nine but still mixed two birdies with just one mistake in a round that saw him miss just two fairways and clean up well around the greens with 24 putts.