Day One at the Irish Open
With conditions as close to ideal as they come, golfer’s went into Thursday’s opening round of the Irish Open looking for that elusive 59 – a score that has yet to achieved on the European Tour. But with the pins well guarded, the field failed to capitalize on what most of the entries thought would be a cakewalk through Killarney’s Golf and Fishing Club.
“It’s not as easy as everyone thinks it is,” said Ireland native Rory McIlory, who along with eight birdies racked up four bogeys through the first 18.
“I was wrong in my initial assessment,” added Darren Clarke, whose 66 left him in a nine-way tie for fourth. “This morning it would have been impossible to get Killarney playing any easier. Yes the guys will get more familiar with it, but there's so many places that they can put the pins that we just can't get at.”
Thursday’s best score came from England’s David Howell, who parred his first three holes before posting back-to-back birdies and would drain another on the seventh to take the turn at three-under 32.
Howell’s strong play continued through the back nine where he again led with three consecutive pars and birdied the 501 yard, par-4 13th. He would grab another birdie on the 15th and take an outright lead over Richard Green and Damien McGrane with an eagle at 17 to end the day at a seven-under 64.
"That was nice. Haven't done that for a long time,” said Howell of his eagle. “I holed a few bombs today. I chipped in and I think I holed three long ones as well. As it happens, I had a few more chances that I missed but I certainly holed more than my fair share, which in fairness you normally do when you shoot 64."
Green and McGrane tied for second with 65s.
Howell seemed to return to form Thursday after what have been some rough years for the four-time European Tour title winner. His last title came in 2006 at the BMW championship and he has yet to break the top 10 this season, his highest finish a 14th at the Open de Espana in May.
"I've never wanted to give up, but it's crossed my mind that if I carry on playing as I did last year I wouldn't have a career to be worried about," said Howell, who goes into Friday’s round with some stiff competition not trailing far behind him.
McIlroy, who came from behind to take this year’s title at Quail Hollow, sits in 13th with a four-under 67 while fellow Irishman and three-time major winner Padraig Harrington shot a 68, sharing a tie for 25th.
Graeme McDowell, who took arguably golf’s toughest title last month at Pebble Beach, sits 50th after shooting a dismal one-under 70.
"I just need to sharpen up across the board," said McDowell. "I said someone would go super low, but you can defend this course by hiding the pins."
Perhaps Thursday biggest surprise came off the greens with the disqualification of last year’s runner-up Robert Rock.
Rock, who would have been tied for second with a six-under 65, was disqualified for signing a faulty score card after he inverted a par and a birdie on the 14th and 15th.
“It’s my fault. I checked, but I didn’t see it and it’s my job to do that,” said Rock, who lost last year’s Open in a playoff to Shane Lowry. “I don’t think I’ve been disqualified for anything before. I would have preferred it to be after an 80.”
As for Rock’s former opponent, Lowry shot a three-over 74 to sit 118th and well back in the standings.
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