Rory McIlroy fought through a day of gusty, demanding conditions at the Amgen Irish Open and emerged four strokes behind the leader after posting a one‑under‑par 69 in the opening round. Ireland’s own Shane Lowry, a former champion of the event, sat just two shots off the top of the leaderboard, keeping the home crowd hopeful. The wind on Thursday was relentless, with gusts reaching up to 35 miles per hour.
The force of the breeze caused balls to roll and bounce unpredictably on the greens, as illustrated by French competitor Frédéric Lacroix, whose ball was blown off the putting surface on the 13th hole. Fortunately for Lacroix, he had already marked his ball, allowing him to replace it without penalty. Such conditions made the first round at Trump International Golf Links and Hotel in Doonbeg feel unusually slow and demanding for the entire field.
Amid the turmoil, Chilean star Joaquin Niemann posted a spectacular course‑record 65, a score that looked increasingly likely to secure him the $30,000 (£22,000) bonus for the lowest round of the week. Niemann reached the turn at two under par and then proceeded to string together four consecutive birdies from the 14th through the 17th holes, showcasing a blend of precision iron play and deft putting despite the wind’s interference. Austrian Maximilian Steinlechner and Italy’s Renato Paratore both positioned themselves as potential challengers for the top spot, sitting at three under par after 12 and 11 holes respectively.
However, the fading daylight threatened to halt their momentum, reminding everyone that the tournament’s early rounds were being squeezed by both weather and limited daylight hours. Shane Lowry, a native of County Dublin who famously won the Irish Open as a 22‑year‑old amateur at Baltray in 2009, remained firmly in contention. He posted a three‑under‑par 66 and, like McIlroy, was playing from the clubhouse.
Lowry’s familiarity with Irish links conditions gave him a slight edge, and his presence near the top of the board added a local narrative that fans eagerly followed. McIlroy’s round began with a series of promising starts.
After missing a short four‑foot birdie putt on the first hole, he answered with a solid 14‑foot par‑saving putt on the second. He then escaped a bunker on the fourth hole, leaving his ball just three feet from the hole and promptly holing the putt for his second birdie of the round. A missed 10‑foot birdie putt on the seventh hole prevented a third birdie, but his early momentum kept him in the mix.
The wind intensified as the round progressed. On the 13th hole, McIlroy found his ball in a fairway bunker and subsequently missed a 10‑foot putt, resulting in a double‑bogey that threatened his position. He quickly recovered with a well‑executed approach on the 15th, pulling a stroke back and demonstrating why he remains one of the world’s top competitors. Despite his efforts, the world number two could not fully capitalize on the limited scoring opportunities that presented themselves toward the end of his round.
A lengthy birdie attempt on the 18th hole fell just short, leaving him with a one‑under‑par total. McIlroy reflected on the day, acknowledging the difficulty of playing under such windy conditions and the impact of a slower pace of play caused by frequent stoppages. He noted that the course’s layout, combined with a crowded field, made it hard to find a rhythm, especially when a round stretches toward six hours. "There were a couple of things that were tough today.
Obviously the wind and the strength of the wind was one thing, and then the pace of play," McIlroy said after his round. "This course isn’t conducive to sort of letting you get in a flow. Especially the first two days with so many people in the field, there is a lot of stopping and starting.
It’s hard when you are playing a round of golf and it takes six hours, it’s hard to get into the rhythm of things, but I felt like I did a good job. After making the double bogey on 13, I was just trying to get those two shots back by the end of the day. Didn’t quite do that, but finishing under par for the day was a reasonable effort. I hung in there, shot under par, and at least don’t feel like I’m out of the tournament.
A good day tomorrow gets me right back in it." Other notable performances included Northern Ireland’s Tom McKibbin, who played alongside European Ryder Cup captain Luke Donald and rising star Alex Fitzpatrick. McKibbin finished the day at two under par, despite a bogey on the final hole. McIlroy’s playing partner, fellow Ryder Cup teammate Robert MacIntyre, ended with a two‑over‑par 71 after a spectacular 37‑foot birdie putt on the 17th was followed by a poor tee shot on the 18th that landed deep in the rough, leading to a six‑stroke hole.
Brooks Koepka, who received a special invitation to the tournament, endured a challenging day, opening with a disastrous seven on the first hole and ultimately finishing five over par. Meanwhile, Jon Rahm, who is reportedly considering a return to the PGA Tour amid uncertainty surrounding LIV Golf, posted an even‑par round, keeping his name in the conversation for future contention.
Looking ahead, the tournament will continue with two live broadcast sessions on Friday. The morning action will be shown from 9:30 a.m. on Sky Sports+, followed by an afternoon session beginning at 5 p.m. Viewers can also stream the coverage via NOW with no contract required.
Golf enthusiasts are encouraged to explore the best deals on Sky Sports or to book a tee time at any of the 1,700 courses across the UK and Ireland, where they can experience the same coastal links atmosphere that tested the world’s best at the Irish Open.