Irish Open: Day One sees early markers laid down

Padraig Harrington, pictured at the 11th hole of Portstewart Golf Club on the opening day of the Irish Open. Credit: Presseye

  • By Joe Kearney

Padraig Harrington put it best at his pre-tournament press conference: “You just have to accept that it’s not a normal week, that there are external pressures and stresses.”

There was little sign of those pressures on Wednesday as the three-time Major champion’s team cruised to the Irish Open pro-am title.

Wednesdays though are never a day for stress. Today is when it matters and when it’s hard to quiet the voices of uncertainty.

There were, thankfully, few nerves in evidence as the Dubliner got his round under way at Portstewart on Thursday morning - birdieing two of his first six holes and parring the other four to leap into the top 10 early on and pushing it to -4 with two to play - the same mark countryman Shane Lowry finished on.

Shane Lowry in action. Credit: Presseye

It was a morning of low scoring though with no rain and a breeze topping out at 14mph and the man everyone was chasing for much of it was England’s Matthew Southgate who shot a stunning 65 to finish at -7.

The 28-year-old from Essex provided a real sporting fairytale at last year’s Irish Open, finishing fourth behind winner McIlroy and having only regained his tour card months before after surgery for testicular cancer.

Matthew Southgate at the 16th. Credit: Presseye

Were Southgate to clinch the title he’d be a hugely popular winner ... but trophies don’t get handed out on Thursday afternoon and plenty of big names are queuing up behind him on the leaderboard.

The biggest within touching distance undoubtedly is World No13 Justin Rose who finished at -5.

Justin Rose, pictured during his opening round. Credit: Presseye

With the glamour grouping of World No2 McIlroy, Jon Rahm (No11) and Hideki Matsuyama not teeing off until 1.20pm, it was up to others to lay down a marker and plenty were doing that in benign conditions.

Big-hitting Spaniard Rafa Cabrera Bello, Argentinian Andres Romero, Frenchman Raphael Jacquelin and left-handed American Paul Peterson gave the upper end of the leaderboard an international look and it was Peterson, known for ability to go low, who did just that.

After going out in a blemish-free 32, he threatened to come back the same way until a late bogey and an ugly three-putt double at the last saw him drop from -8 to -6. Still a great day and real fillip for the streaky Oregon man.

Threatening to go even deeper into the red was 28-year-old Londoner Ollie Fisher at -8.

Thomas Pieters and Rafa Cabrera Bello. Credit: Presseye

But with every tale of joy comes a tale of woe and at the wrong end of the leaderboard, there was one surprise struggler.

Thomas Pieters, the 25-year-old Belgian who was Europe’s outstanding player at the last Ryder Cup, was labouring at +3 after his first 13 holes and facing a big ask to make the cut - never mind play his way back into contention.

Three late birdies at least took him back to level par, but at eight shots back, he needs to find some magic on Friday to make himself a factor come the business-end of the tournament.