• Canadian Open, Round One

Donald and McDowell struggle in Canada

Luke Donald could not find consistency around the Glenn Abbey © AP

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Canadian Open Leaderboard

Luke Donald suffered an inconsistent start to the Canadian Open after stuttering to a first round of 73 at the Glenn Abbey in Ontario, leaving the Englishman one-over-par.

Donald, who this time last year began the tournament as world No. 1, started with a bogey after finding the rough with his opening shot off the tee.

Despite moving under-par with birdies at five and seven, the 35-year-old dropped another shot at the ninth when firing into the greenside bunker, finishing evens at the turn.

Two pars followed, but any chance of a charge up the back nine was soon halted. A bogey at 12 was followed by a disastrous double bogey at 14, when Donald found the native area with his drive before fluffing his second shot.

A nine-foot putt for birdie at 16 softened the blow, before a birdie at the last provided a solid ending for Donald.

Elsewhere, Graeme McDowell also struggled around the Oakville course, finishing with a four-over-par round of 76. McDowell got off to a good start, making birdie at the second, but endured six bogeys in his next fifteen holes to slide down the leaderboard; finally stopping the rot with a birdie at the last.

Brendan Steele set the early standard with a seven-under opening score of 65 with Scott Brown, Matt Kuchar and Scott Gardiner one shot back at six-under.

Hunter Mahan enjoyed an impressive 67, while compatriot Bubba Watson carded a four-under 68.

Vijay Singh ended the day three-under par and Brandt Snedeker sits a further shot behind at two-under. Ernie Els recovered from an early double bogey to post a one-under score of 71.

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