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 68 in the opening round. Ireland’s own Shane Lowry stayed close to the summit, sitting just two strokes back at three under par.
The wind on the Doonbeg links at Trump International Golf Links and Hotel surged to as much as 35 miles per hour, turning the greens into moving targets. French competitor Frédéric Lacroix experienced his ball being blown off the putting surface on the 13th hole; fortunately he had already marked his ball and was able to replace it without penalty.
Such erratic breezes slowed the pace of play for the entire field, making Thursday’s first round a test of patience as well as skill. Amid the swirling air, Chilean star Joaquin Niemann produced a spectacular round of 65, setting a new course record. After reaching the turn at two under, Niemann unleashed a streak of four consecutive birdies from the 14th through the 17th, putting him in contention for the $30,000 (approximately £22,000) bonus awarded for the lowest round of the week.
Austrian Maximilian Steinlechner and Italy’s Renato Paratore also looked poised to mount a challenge for the top of the leaderboard, both posting three‑under‑par scores through 12 and 11 holes respectively. Their momentum, however, risked being halted by the fading daylight as the day wore on. Home‑grown favorite Shane Lowry, who famously captured the Irish Open title as a 22‑year‑old amateur in Baltray, kept his name in the mix by also finishing at three under par.
His steady play reminded the crowd why he remains a contender on his native soil. Long queues at many tee boxes were a common sight, but McIlroy, the defending champion from his 2022 victory at the K Club, managed to navigate the delays efficiently.
He opened with two birdies in his first four holes, reaching the turn at two under after 34 holes and doing so in just three and a half hours – a respectable tempo given the conditions. The Northern Irish star’s early birdies came from a mix of precision and daring: after missing a four‑foot birdie putt on the first hole, he holed a 14‑footer on the second, then escaped a bunker on the fourth to set up a three‑foot putt for his second birdie. A missed 10‑footer on the seventh halted his birdie run, but he stayed within striking distance. Trouble struck on the 13th when McIlroy’s ball found a fairway bunker and he subsequently missed a 10‑foot putt, resulting in a double‑bogey.
He quickly recovered with an excellent approach on the 15th that pulled a stroke back, demonstrating his resilience. Despite the setback, the world No. 2 could not capitalize on the limited opportunities that remained in the closing stretch. A long‑range birdie attempt on the 18th fell short, leaving him with a final round of one under par.
McIlroy will return on Friday morning hoping to improve both his score and his standing as the weather forecast suggests a possible easing of the wind. "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." He continued, "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, posted a two‑under‑par 66, though a late bogey on the final hole kept him from moving higher on the board. McIlroy’s playing partner, Ryder Cup teammate Robert MacIntyre, struggled, finishing two over par 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, leading to a six‑stroke hole. Brooks Koepka, who entered the tournament via a special invitation, endured a difficult day that began with a seven on the opening hole and concluded at five over par.
Jon Rahm, whose future on the PGA Tour remains a topic of discussion amid the uncertainty surrounding LIV Golf, posted an even‑par round, keeping him within striking distance of the leaders. Fans wondering who will ultimately claim the Amgen Irish Open can look forward to two live coverage windows on Friday: a morning session starting at 9:30 a.m. on Sky Sports+ and an evening session beginning at 5 p.m. Additional viewing options include streaming via NOW with no contract required.
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