McDowell and Power start well in Memphis

Graeme McDowell blasts his greenside bunker shot to a foot, setting up a tap-in birdie on the par-5 16th hole at TPC Southwind last night

Graeme McDowell played his final seven holes in two-under-par to open with a one-under 69 in the FedEx St Jude Classic in Memphis.

The 2010 US Open champion ended the day tied for 29th with West Waterford’s Seamus Power in his build-up to next week’s second major of the year at Erin Hills.

McDowell birdied the first two hole but found himself two over with eight holes to play when he three-putted the fourth and then followed a double-bogey six at the ninth with another dropped shot at the 10th at TPC Southwind.

But he then holed a 22 footer for birdie at the 12th and added further birdies at the 15th and 16th before following a bogey at the 17th with a birdie from 16 feet at the 18th. Scores

McDowell and Power are five strokes behind American trio Matt Every, Scott Brown and Stewart Cink and Colombian Sebastian Munoz, who all carded 64s, with former Masters champion Charl Schwartzel a shot back on five under.

Power birdied the second and third, bogeyed the sixth but then followed a birdie at the ninth with a dropped shot at the 10th before parring his way home.

The Waterford man has broken par in the opening round in 13 of his 16 starts so far this year and is fourth for first round scoring with an average of 69.07.

He’s 43rd for round two scoring but struggles at weekends. He is ranked 130th in round three (71.27) and 182nd in round four (72.30), leaving him 144th in the FedEx Cup standings.