*Shane Lowry, Brooks Koepka and Rory McIlroy. Photograph: Eamon Ward / Clare County Council
PLAY was suspended on round one of the Amgen Irish Open in Trump Doonbeg on Thursday with Shane Lowry among the leading pack.
In what was the longest day in the history of the Amgen Irish Open, golfers took on marathon rounds of six-plus hours as they tackled tricky West Clare winds and the infamous Doonbeg sand dunes.
Winds gusting to 30mph, lost balls, and lengthy rulings coupled with the difficulty of a one-tee start, led to massive delays in play for the entire field. The highest gust recorded was 55kph
Twenty one players among the field of 138 were still out on the West Clare course when play was suspended at 19:58 “due to darkness”. The conditions led to congestion on up to four holes and tested the ability of every single golfer. Among them was Frederic Lacroix of France who saw his ball blown off the putting surface at the thirteenth, he had marked its positioning prior to this so was fortunately able to replace it.
Winner of the 2019 Irish Open in Lahinch, Jon Rahm became reacquainted with the Wild Atlantic Way when he called for an official after his ball was pummelled by the conditions on the fifth green.
Chile’s Joaquin Niemann is the overnight leader following day one, he had a run of four birdies from the 14th to the 17th which saw him shoot to the top of the pile on five-under par, with a course-record 65. His playing group included Ireland’s Seamus Power and Austria’s Sepp Straka.
Shane Lowry leads the Irish challenge after day one. His round of 67 was enough for a share of second place on three-under par
Italian Renato Paratore, Maximilian Steinlechner of Austria, and Pole Adrian Meronk are also on three under but are among a number of players who must return to finish their opening 18 holes on Friday morning
Rory McIlroy said it was his longest-ever round of golf, he sits four shots behind the leader. The defending champion shot birdies at the second and fourth holes, double-bogeyed the 13th after taking two shots to get out of a bunker, but then picked up a shot at the 15th. Northern Ireland’s Tom McKibbin was tied for seventh after a 68.
It took Pádraig Harrington closer to six hours than five to get around in one-over-par 71, six shots more than the leader Niemann.
Full leader board – HERE
