Rory McIlroy fought through a demanding, wind‑swept opening round at the Amgen Irish Open, finishing four strokes behind the leader who was already in the clubhouse after posting a one‑under‑par 71. 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 day was dominated by gusts that reached 35 miles per hour, causing putts to wobble on the greens and even sending a ball off the putting surface at the 13th hole. French competitor Frédéric Lacroix experienced that exact scenario, but he was fortunate enough to have already marked his ball, allowing him to replace it without penalty. Such conditions made for a slow‑moving round at Trump International Golf Links and Hotel in Doonbeg, with players often having to wait for groups ahead to finish before they could tee off. Amid the turbulence, Chilean star Joaquin Niemann produced a spectacular 65, a new course record that put him in contention for a $30,000 (£22,000) bonus awarded for the lowest round of the week.
Niemann reached the turn at two under par and then fired four consecutive birdies from the 14th hole onward, showcasing a blend of power and precision that seemed to cut through the wind. Austrian Maximilian Steinlechner and Italy’s Renato Paratore also looked poised to challenge for the top spots, both standing at three under par after 12 and 11 holes respectively.
Their chances, however, were threatened by the diminishing daylight as the afternoon progressed. Local favorite Shane Lowry, who famously captured the Irish Open title as a 22‑year‑old amateur in Baltray, remained firmly in the mix, also posting a three‑under‑par score and staying in the clubhouse. Long pauses on many tee boxes were a common theme throughout the day, but McIlroy, the defending champion from his 2023 win at the K Club, managed to start strongly.
He birdied two of his first four holes and reached the turn at two under after a brisk 34‑stroke front nine, completing his round in roughly three and a half hours. After missing a short four‑foot birdie putt on the first hole, he responded with a 14‑footer on the second.
A bunker shot on the par‑five fourth hole left him within three feet of the pin, resulting in his second birdie of the round. A missed 10‑foot putt on the seventh hole prevented a third birdie, but he kept his momentum. The 13th hole proved costly when McIlroy’s ball found a fairway bunker and a subsequent missed 10‑foot putt led to a double‑bogey. He quickly recovered with an excellent approach on the 15th, pulling a stroke back.
The world number two, however, found opportunities limited in the closing stretch and narrowly missed a long birdie attempt on the 18th. He will return on Friday hoping for better weather and a chance to climb the leaderboard. "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." Northern Ireland’s Tom McKibbin, paired with European team captain Luke Donald and Alex Fitzpatrick, finished two under par after a bogey on the final hole. McIlroy’s playing partner, Ryder Cup teammate Robert MacIntyre, ended the day at two over after a brilliant 37‑foot birdie putt on the 17th was followed by a poor tee shot on the 18th that landed in deep rough, resulting in a six. Brooks Koepka, who entered the tournament via a special invitation, endured a difficult round, starting with a disastrous seven on the first hole and ultimately finishing five over par.
Jon Rahm, whose future on the PGA Tour remains a topic of discussion amid ongoing LIV Golf uncertainties, posted an even‑par round. Fans wondering who will ultimately claim the Amgen Irish Open can look forward to two live coverage sessions on Friday. The morning action begins at 9:30 am on Sky Sports+, with a second session kicking off at 5 pm.
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