Graeme McDowell in touch in Phoenix after 'ridiculous' birdie

Graeme McDowell sits three shots off the lead and in a tie for sixth after an opening round 68 at the Waste Management Phoenix Open in Scottsdale, Arizona.

Starting on the 10th, the 2010 US Open champion was aided by a mammoth birdie on the 17th hole - which he labelled on Twitter as "one of the more ridiculous birdies I've made in my life" - as he reached the turn in one-under par.

Definitely one of the more ridiculous birdies I've made in my life. Drove it in fairway trap and had to just splash it middle of the green and take my medicine. Well…kind of!!!! @WMPhoenixOpen https://t.co/poqbiKV317

McDowell both began and ended his round with six successive pars, with a flurry of birdies arriving around the turn on the 16th, 17th, 1st and 3rd, with a stroke jammed in the middle on 18. The Portrush golfer winds up on three-under, currently three shots off the early pace-setter, Korean Kyoung-Hoon Lee.

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It was a more underwhelming day for the other Irish player in the field, Seamus Power.

The Waterford golfer, whose rich of vein of form has carried into the world's top-50, carded an even par round of 71, with 16 pars along with a birdie on the 6th, a swift bogey following on the 7th (his 15th and 16th). He lies in a tie for 60th midway through day one.

Gathering behind Lee is a star-studded grouping including Brooks Koepka (66), currently in sole possession of second, and then a trio of players on four under par, Louis Oosthuizen, Charley Hoffman and Xander Schauffele.