Graeme McDowell’s struggles continue in Dubai Desert Classic

An opening four-over-par 76 left him 12 off the pace as McDowell shared 115th place after his only birdie came at the 18th.

The 41-year-old’s round left him 12 strokes behind South Africa’s Richard Sterne.

Last year, the Portrush native moved back into world’s top 50 when he won in Saudi Arabia but McDowell he has been out of form since golf returned again after the first lockdown.

Former winner Sergio Garcia made a superb start as Tyrrell Hatton came down to earth with a bump.

Garcia carded six birdies in a bogey-free 66 to finish two shots behind Sterne.

In contrast Hatton, whose victory in Abu Dhabi on Sunday lifted him to a career-high fifth in the world, found himself in a tie for 115th along with Ian Poulter and McDowell after struggling to an opening 76.

“I felt comfortable out there for sure,” said Garcia, who lifted the title at Emirates Golf Club in 2017, two months before winning the Masters.

“I felt like I hit a lot of good shots.”

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