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| A rejuvenated Lee Westwood in action at Fota Island this morning (© Inpho) |
England's Nick Dougherty and Sweden's Joakim Haeggman fired rounds of five-under 66 to capture the early lead on the first day of the Murphy's Irish Open at Fota Island in Cork.
Monty and Westwood poised to strike Dougherty, a protegee of the legendary Nick Faldo, blazed over the front nine with five straight birdies from the first, his 10th. It had put the 20-year-old into the lead on his own on six-under after an outward half in one-under 34.
However, he dropped a shot at the sixth, his 15th, to currently share the top spot with Haeggman. The Swede scored even halves of 33, the highlight coming with an eagle at the fourth.
After much change during the course of the morning, the recognisable names of Lee Westwood and the defending champion Colin Montgomerie find themselves one shot behind the leaders on four-under alongside Scotland's Gordon Brand Jnr and Germany's Steen Tinning. Playing in the same group as Westwood, the Scot had kind words to say about his Ryder Cup team-mate's return to form.
"Lee was very impressive today, he putted well and I'm delighted to see he was on top of the leaderboard at one point," said Montgomerie. Asked about his own round and the defending champion was decidedly upbeat.
"I birdied the first which was a bloody quick start . . . playing some of the coastal holes is difficult in the wind so I am delighted to have got round in 67." It wasn't such a satisfying day for Darren Clarke, who yet again struggled to find his touch on the greens.
"I missed two greens (in regulation) all day and still I could only one putt on two occasions," explained a miffed Clarke who changed back to the putter he used at the US Open. "That was not the start to the Irish Open I was looking for," he said feeling frustrated with his efforts.
Clarke's fellow Ulsterman, and new blood on the European Tour, Graeme McDowell, was a breath of fresh air in comparison when evaluating his one-under par 70.
"That was a good enough start, I felt much more comfortable out there than I did last week (Great North Open)," said the Portrush golfer in only his second start as a professional.
He said: "I changed drivers from the Talyor made 360 to the new 500 series which made a big difference, I drove it very well today."
"My aim is to stick as close to the leaders as I can and we'll what happens over the weekend," spoke a man who is confident of making the cut and more. "I felt 70 was the worst score I could have had today, and even though my iron play was the weakest part of the game I still gave myself plenty of chances to make birdies."
Veteran Eamonn Darcy flattered to deceive for much of the morning but eventually had to settle for a two-under par 69. The unorthodox 49-year-old was in share of the lead on five-under at one point but a double-bogey at the fifth, his 14th, and bogeys on the final two holes put paid to earlier aspirations.
Elsewhere, several of the Irish PGA professionals gave solid accounts of themselves. Lisburn's Stephen Hamill finished on level par while Laganview's Damian Mooney threatened to do the same but two late bogeys meant he had to settle for an opening 73.
Richie Coughlan, who took a break from tournament play in the United States to play here on sponsor's invite, struggled to find any real form. The Birr-born golfer finished with a three-over 74 as did Michael Allan from Leopardstown and Michael Hoey. Allan's playing partner John Dwyer from Ashbourne shot a 75.
Nine Irishmen were still on the course late this afternoon with Padraig Harrington shouldering much of the expectation from the home support. The Dubliner started well with a birdie at the first before giving a shot back at the third then birdied again at the fifth to be one-under.