Rory McIlroy fought through a day of gusty, demanding weather at the Amgen Irish Open and finished the opening round four strokes behind the leader on the clubhouse scoreboard, posting a one‑under‑par 71. Ireland’s own Shane Lowry, a former champion of the event, was just two strokes off the top, sitting at three under after his round. The wind on Thursday gusted to as much as 35 miles per hour, causing the balls to behave erratically on the greens. French competitor Frédéric Lacroix experienced a particularly dramatic moment when a strong gust blew his ball off the putting surface at the 13th hole.
Fortunately, he had already marked his ball, allowing him to replace it and continue his round without penalty. Such conditions made progress slow for the entire field at Trump International Golf Links and Hotel in Doonbeg, where the course’s exposed coastal layout amplified the effect of the wind. Amid the challenging atmosphere, Chilean star Joaquin Niemann produced a spectacular round of 65, a new course record, that put him firmly in contention for the $30,000 (£22,000) bonus awarded for the lowest round of the tournament.
Niemann reached the turn (the first nine holes) at two under par and then proceeded to birdie four consecutive holes from the 14th through the 17th, showcasing a blend of power and precision that seemed to tame the wind for a brief spell. Austrian Maximilian Steinlechner and Italy’s Renato Paratore also displayed strong play, both sitting three under after 12 and 11 holes respectively. Their momentum, however, risked being halted by the fading daylight, a factor that often adds an extra layer of difficulty in coastal links tournaments where players must adjust both to the wind and to the diminishing visibility.
Home‑grown favourite Shane Lowry, who famously won the Irish Open as a 22‑year‑old amateur at Baltray, remained in the mix, also posting a three‑under score and staying within striking distance of the leaders. Lowry’s experience on Irish soil and his familiarity with windy conditions gave him a distinct advantage, and his performance kept the hopes of the local crowd alive. Long waits on many tee boxes were a recurring theme throughout the day, as groups were frequently delayed by the need to ensure safety and fairness in the high winds. McIlroy, who captured the Irish Open title at the K Club just a year earlier, managed to start his round strongly, carding two birdies in his first four holes.
He reached the turn at two under in just three and a half hours, a respectable pace given the circumstances. The Northern Irish star’s early birdies came from a 14‑foot putt on the second hole and a spectacular bunker shot that landed three feet from the hole on the par‑five fourth, where he secured his second birdie of the round. A missed 10‑foot birdie putt on the seventh prevented a third birdie, but he remained in a solid position. Trouble struck on the 13th when McIlroy’s ball found a fairway bunker, and a subsequent missed 10‑foot putt resulted in a double‑bogey.
He quickly recovered with an excellent approach shot on the 15th, pulling a stroke back and demonstrating his resilience. The world number two, however, found limited opportunities on the closing holes and narrowly missed a long birdie attempt on the 18th, ending the day with a respectable under‑par round but still four strokes behind the clubhouse leader. 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.
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 team captain Luke Donald and rising star Alex Fitzpatrick, finishing at two under after a bogey on the final hole. McIlroy’s Ryder Cup teammate Robert MacIntyre posted a two‑over round, 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 received a special invitation to the tournament, endured a difficult day, beginning with a seven on the first hole and ultimately finishing five over par.
Jon Rahm, who is currently weighing a return to the PGA Tour amid ongoing uncertainty surrounding LIV Golf, recorded an even‑par round. Looking ahead, the tournament will continue with two live coverage sessions on Friday.
The morning action will be broadcast live from 9:30 am on Sky Sports+, followed by an evening session starting at 5 pm. Golf fans can also explore the latest Sky Sports offers or stream the event without a contract on NOW. For those interested in playing the courses featured on the tour, the platform provides price comparisons and booking options for over 1,700 courses across the United Kingdom and Ireland.
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