G Mac finds 1st hole at masters intimidating
Graeme McDowell says one of Augusta's greatest challenges comes at the very start
Graeme McDowell: Pondering his second shot to the first hole in round three last year
Graeme McDowell admits that the par four first hole at Augusta National intimidates him.
The 445-yard opener - called Tea Olive - played as the hardest hole on the course in 2012, averaging 4.39. It yielded just 11 birdies, while there were 96 bogeys and 17 doubles or worse.
McDowell said: "I always find the second shot on one kind of intimidating. It unsettles you right away. Especially when the fairways are wet, that's a long hole.
"You're going in there with 5, 4 irons to an upturned saucer green and are just trying not to miss it in the wrong place.
"Two (par five) is a little bit of a respite but one, right off the bat, unsettles me. It's definitely one of the toughest second shots on the course to me."
McDowell, who will be playing in his sixth Masters this year, admits that the whole golf course used to scare him although he's slowly come to terms with it.
"The first couple of years I played it, it was very difficult. I felt like I was playing with the hand-brake on all day, really trying to fire away from flags. They shaved run-off areas, and the ball was really coming back off the front of greens.
"They got really tough there for three or four years but I feel like they've throttled back on it a little bit."
McDowell missed the cut in three of his first four Masters appearances but last year he came an encouraging 12th.
He explained: "I guess I kind of worked it out a bit. In the last three rounds last year I played very well (he shot 72-71-68 after opening with a 75).
"I'm excited to go back there this year. I feel like I'm getting better all the time and understanding my game and what makes me tick and what makes me score."