Graeme McDowell enjoyed a timely resurgence in form at the Scottish Open on Thursday.
The former U.S. Open champion, who has managed just a single top-10 finish on the European Tour this season, shot an impressive opening 66 to lie three shots behind pacesetter Thorbjorn Olesen of Denmark.
After missing the cut comprehensively at last week's Open de France, where the Portrush native was two time defending champion, a closing pair of bogeys will not have detracted from the fact that McDowell played some of his best golf of the year at the course at Gullane.
"It's always disappointing to finish with a couple of bogeys but I played some good stuff today," McDowell said.
"I drove the ball well and the putter was quite spicy the first 11 or 12 holes before cooling down, but I would have taken 66 before going out and I will take it now."
McDowell admitted that he needed to "clear his mind" after weeks of worrying about technique and had dispelled some of his demons with some impressive shot making a week before the start of the Open Championship.
He explained that he and coach Pete Cowen had resolved some issues by revisiting footage of his swing from the 2010 U.S. Open, where McDowell secured his only major triumph to date.
"I'm trying to get back to basics and we have narrowed my stance and used my body to swing the club how I used to," McDowell clarified.
"And it was nice to get back on a course that gives you a few opportunities in benign conditions. I just need a few low numbers to get my belief and confidence back and today will go a long way towards that."
Elsewhere, the U.S. trio of Jimmy Walker and Rickie Fowler lie at five-under and four-under respectively.