Updated 19.00
HE MIGHT SWING the club like a drunken lumberjack, but India’s Jeev Milka Singh has rocketed to the head of the leaderboard on day one of the Irish Open at Killarney Golf & Fishing Club.
On eight-under-par, the Indian maestro has opened up a two-shot lead over France’s Alexandre Kaleka while Christian Nilsson, Marcel Siem and Michael Campbell are a further shot back on five-under.
Ireland’s Colm Moriarty is in a tie for sixth place after finishing the day on four-under, a score shared by defending champion Ross Fisher and smooth-swinging Raphael Jacquelin, among others.
The island’s newest major champion, Darren Clarke, shot a round of 69, two-under-par, to share 21st place with unheralded amateur compatriot Alan Dunbar.
With two birdies in the final three holes, Clarke’s run-in sat in contrast to that of his friend Rory McIlroy. After blazing through the front nine early on in the day, the US Open winner’s second nine was error strewn, eventually culminating in an uncomfortable double-bogey finish. The Holywood native was eventually forced to settle for a round of 70.
The other members of Ireland’s major-winning contingent, Graeme McDowell and Padraig Harrington, both find themselves towards the tail-end of the field, having carded a 72 and 73, respectively.
Additional reporting by Niall Kelly.
