Former champion Graeme McDowell has promised to take the right stance in his bid for a second victory at the Corales Puntacana Championship.
McDowell admits that he would rather be among the top 64 eligible players in the world competing in the WGC-Dell Technologies Match Play rather than compete in the event in the Dominican Republic.
But the former US Open champion will be fully focused on fighting for the first prize of 666,000 US dollars (a little over £ 500,000) in Punta Cana as the best names try to win 2.1 million dollars (£ 1.6m) in Austin Country Club they won.
“I’ve really enjoyed coming back here over the years,” said the 2019 winner McDowell. “It’s a little bittersweet. Of course you’d rather be at World Match Play, but I really like getting here.
“Of course, the victory in 2019 was a really important victory for me at that time because I had a stamina status (on the PGA Tour) and it meant a lot to me.
“I also did a pretty good run here last year. I finished Bogey-Bogey to lose with some shots and some very difficult conditions. Seventeen and 18 play pretty hard here and it’s very easy to do.
“Obviously there are a lot of good players in this area who may feel that they are good enough to be in match play, but they are playing an opposing event here and there is a certain amount involved in how you deal with it.
“I’ve always tried to come down here with the right attitude. This is a fantastic opportunity, there are great FedEx Cup points to be won here. It’s about having the attitude in the right place.”
In spite of McDowell’s opening day, WGC-Dell Technologies Match Play has produced its own dramas.
Paul Casey admitted his opening game of the tournament due to back spasms after completing just two holes.
Casey won the opening hole with a par against Group 10 opponent Corey Conners, but lost the second when the Canadian shot from 148 yards for an eagle.
The couple had their T-shots hit on the par-four third hole when Casey signaled he could not continue.
The 44-year-old, twice a vice-up in this event, did not concede his remaining group matches against Alex Noren on Thursday and Louis Oosthuizen on Friday and could still win both to potentially reach the last 16.
The 64 players at Austin Country Club are divided into 16 groups of four with only the pool winners advancing to the knockout stages this weekend.
Group 11 shows four big champions in the form of Jordan Spieth, Adam Scott, Justin Rose and Keegan Bradley, with Spieth beating Bradley 2up and Scott defeating Rose by the same margin.
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