Padraig Harrington best of the Irish at Portrush Irish Open

Caroline Wozniacki adds her support to Rory McIlroy’s cause, joins sell-out crowd as Irish Open sparkles

The 2010 US Open champion admitted: “I was cruising along nicely at two under par and I had ninety yards to the pint on 17, but got too aggressive.

“I don’t know if I got a bit of a flier from the wet fairways but I hit it over the back into the bushes, lost ball, and I make double bogey on a birdie hole.

“That was a cardinal error, but I steadied the ship nicely after that, and it would have been a lot better if I hadn’t missed short putts on three and five, and three-putted seven.

“But one under is no cause for panic. I’ve got a bit of work to do, but that’s an okay round out of the way and I need three good rounds to have a chance of winning this weekend.

Big Break winner Mark Murphy, the American based Kerryman, is nicely positioned after a three under par 69 as he made the most of his invitation to play at Portrush.

Murphy said: “I was nervous, I won’t lie. It’s tough when you are coming in for week and shooting for your dreams.

“When I won Big Break I was told I might get into tournaments in America on the PGA Tour and the Nationwide Tour and in Europe too. But I have got nothing.

“I know I can compete with everybody and please god now I can finish top 10 here and I won’t need any more invites and we can go on from there.”

Major winner Keegan Bradley meanwhile is in danger of missing the cut after a one over par 73 on day one.

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Nster.com