Rory McIlroy fought through a day of fierce, gusty weather at the Amgen Irish Open, finishing his opening round one under par and finding himself four strokes back of the leader who posted the best score from the clubhouse. Ireland’s own Shane Lowry, a former champion of the tournament, sat just two strokes behind the top spot, keeping the home crowd hopeful.
The wind on Thursday was relentless, with gusts reaching 35 miles per hour. The force of the breezes caused balls to wobble dramatically on the greens, and at the 13th hole French competitor Frédéric Lacroix saw his ball blown off the putting surface.
Fortunately, Lacroix had already taken his score for the hole, allowing him to replace the ball without penalty. Such conditions made progress slow for everyone at Trump International Golf Links and Hotel in Doonbeg. As the day wore on, a spectacular round emerged from Chile’s Joaquin Niemann, who posted a course‑record 65.
Niemann’s front nine was solid, reaching the turn at two under, and he then rattled off four consecutive birdies from the 14th hole onward. His performance put him in contention for the tournament’s $30,000 (approximately £22,000) bonus awarded for the lowest single‑round score of the week. Austrian Maximilian Steinlechner and Italy’s Renato Paratore also looked poised to challenge for the top of the leaderboard, standing at three under after 12 and 11 holes respectively.
However, the fading daylight threatened to halt their momentum before they could complete their rounds. Shane Lowry, a local favorite who famously captured the Irish Open title as a 22‑year‑old amateur at Baltray, remained firmly in the mix, also posting a three‑under score from the clubhouse.
His presence added extra excitement for the Irish fans watching the tournament unfold. Long waits on many tee boxes were a recurring theme, a by‑product of the strong wind and the large field of competitors. McIlroy, who had won the event the previous year at the K Club, managed to start his round positively, carding two birdies within his first four holes. He reached the turn at two under with a 34‑stroke front nine, completing his round in three and a half hours.
His early birdies came after a missed four‑foot putt on the first hole, followed by a confident 14‑footer on the second. A spectacular bunker shot left him three feet from the pin on the par‑five fourth, which he converted for his second birdie. A missed 10‑foot putt on the seventh hole prevented a third birdie, but he stayed in contention. Trouble arrived on the 13th when McIlroy’s ball landed in a fairway bunker.
A missed 10‑foot putt resulted in a double‑bogey, temporarily widening the gap to the leaders. Nevertheless, a precise approach shot on the 15th helped him claw back a stroke quickly. The world No. 2 then faced limited scoring chances during the closing holes, narrowly missing a long birdie attempt on the 18th.
McIlroy reflected on the day’s challenges, noting, "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." He added that the course’s layout and the large field made it difficult to find a rhythm, especially with frequent stops and starts.
"It’s hard when you’re playing a round of golf and it takes six hours; it’s hard to get into the flow, but I felt like I did a good job," he said. After the double‑bogey on 13, McIlroy aimed to recover the two lost strokes before the round ended.
Although he fell short of that goal, he was satisfied with finishing under par, stating, "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 team captain Luke Donald and Alex Fitzpatrick, finishing two under after a bogey on the final hole.
McIlroy’s Ryder Cup teammate Robert MacIntyre posted a two‑over round, having made a brilliant 37‑foot birdie putt on the 17th but then finding deep rough off the tee on the 18th, leading to a six‑stroke hole. Brooks Koepka, who received a special invitation to the event, endured a difficult day, beginning with a seven on the first hole and ultimately finishing five over par. Meanwhile, Jon Rahm, whose future on the PGA Tour remains in question amid ongoing LIV Golf uncertainties, recorded an even‑par round.
Looking ahead, the tournament will continue with two live coverage sessions on Friday. The morning action begins at 9:30 a.m. on Sky Sports+, followed by an evening session starting at 5 p.m. Viewers can also explore Sky Sports deals or stream the event without a contract on NOW.
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