RORY McILROY IS lurking just two shots off the lead after posting an impressive five-under 67 in round one of the Irish Open at the K Club today.
But the world number three has got serious competition at the top of the leaderboard in the shape of Masters champion Danny Willett, who sits two shots clear following a seven-under 65.
McIlroy and Willett were among the day’s later starters and took advantage of improving conditions after the morning contingent had to battle with heavy rainfall and strong winds.
England’s Callum Shinkwin and South Africa’s Jaco van Zyl are just one shot further back on four-under while the likes of Ross Fisher, Martin Kaymer, Brett Rumford and defending champion Soren Kjeldsen are four shots off the lead on three-under.
Willett, who has not played on the European Tour since his triumph at Augusta, got off to a solid start at the K Club, making gains at holes three and seven.
And a run of five birdies in six holes between the ninth and 14th — on which he produced a superb long putt — thrust him to the top of the leaderboard.
An uncharacteristic blip at the 17th, owing to a wayward tee shot, threatened to end Willett’s round on a sour note, but the Englishman recovered to make amends with another birdie on the last after leaving himself with a simple putt.
Advertisement
“Things have been a bit mental but it’s just great to be back in Europe playing golf, being around the lads that I’ve obviously played golf with for the last eight years,” said Willett.
“I’m very happy to be back here.
“We started off a little scrappy and then we just kept plodding along. I tried not to make too many mistakes.
“We had seen that there are a few scores in and around two or three-under-par, which we were looking at being a really good score.
“I just seemed to get hot with the putter on the back nine and rolled a few in, and didn’t make too many mistakes.”
Danny Willett leads the way on seven-under-par. PA Wire / Press Association Images
PA Wire / Press Association Images / Press Association Images
McIlroy seemed to be in nice touch on his way to carding six birdies — three on the front nine and three on the back nine — and one bogey at the County Kildare venue.
Next best of the large Irish contingent is Paul Dunne. The Greystones man posted a solid two-under-par 70 for a share of ninth place but will likely be ruing late bogeys on the 16th and 17th, although he did at least finish with a birdie on the par-five 18th.
Shane Lowry was one of the day’s early starters dealt with the conditions better than most to record a one-under 71. Alongside him is Graeme McDowell, who was the highest Irish finisher at last week’s Players Championship.
Padraig Harrington will have to make a big move up the leaderboard tomorrow if he wants to be playing competitive golf this weekend.
Starting on the par-five 10th, he began with a birdie but followed that with a treble bogey on 11 and a double bogey on 15.
The Dubliner failed to recover after that and went on to card a four-over 76 to leave him sitting 11 shots off the lead in a tie for 114th.
You can catch up with the day’s full leaderboard here.
The42 is on Snapchat! Tap the button below on your phone to add!
Willett sets pace at Irish Open but McIlroy is in close pursuit
RORY McILROY IS lurking just two shots off the lead after posting an impressive five-under 67 in round one of the Irish Open at the K Club today.
But the world number three has got serious competition at the top of the leaderboard in the shape of Masters champion Danny Willett, who sits two shots clear following a seven-under 65.
McIlroy and Willett were among the day’s later starters and took advantage of improving conditions after the morning contingent had to battle with heavy rainfall and strong winds.
England’s Callum Shinkwin and South Africa’s Jaco van Zyl are just one shot further back on four-under while the likes of Ross Fisher, Martin Kaymer, Brett Rumford and defending champion Soren Kjeldsen are four shots off the lead on three-under.
Willett, who has not played on the European Tour since his triumph at Augusta, got off to a solid start at the K Club, making gains at holes three and seven.
And a run of five birdies in six holes between the ninth and 14th — on which he produced a superb long putt — thrust him to the top of the leaderboard.
An uncharacteristic blip at the 17th, owing to a wayward tee shot, threatened to end Willett’s round on a sour note, but the Englishman recovered to make amends with another birdie on the last after leaving himself with a simple putt.
“Things have been a bit mental but it’s just great to be back in Europe playing golf, being around the lads that I’ve obviously played golf with for the last eight years,” said Willett.
“I’m very happy to be back here.
“We started off a little scrappy and then we just kept plodding along. I tried not to make too many mistakes.
“We had seen that there are a few scores in and around two or three-under-par, which we were looking at being a really good score.
“I just seemed to get hot with the putter on the back nine and rolled a few in, and didn’t make too many mistakes.”
McIlroy seemed to be in nice touch on his way to carding six birdies — three on the front nine and three on the back nine — and one bogey at the County Kildare venue.
Next best of the large Irish contingent is Paul Dunne. The Greystones man posted a solid two-under-par 70 for a share of ninth place but will likely be ruing late bogeys on the 16th and 17th, although he did at least finish with a birdie on the par-five 18th.
Shane Lowry was one of the day’s early starters dealt with the conditions better than most to record a one-under 71. Alongside him is Graeme McDowell, who was the highest Irish finisher at last week’s Players Championship.
Padraig Harrington will have to make a big move up the leaderboard tomorrow if he wants to be playing competitive golf this weekend.
Starting on the par-five 10th, he began with a birdie but followed that with a treble bogey on 11 and a double bogey on 15.
The Dubliner failed to recover after that and went on to card a four-over 76 to leave him sitting 11 shots off the lead in a tie for 114th.
You can catch up with the day’s full leaderboard here.
The42 is on Snapchat! Tap the button below on your phone to add!
Muirfield still won’t let women in so loses right to host The Open
‘When I eventually blew every cent I had on a 50-1 horse, I just about hit rock bottom’
To embed this post, copy the code below on your site
Danny Willett Golf Irish Open late bloomers major players Rory McIlroy