 Thomas Bjorn featured in a birdie blitz around Portmarnock |
Denmark's Thomas Bjorn took the first-round lead in the Irish Open - by holeing a bunker shot. Four days after losing the Open from three ahead with four to play, the 32-year-old Dane fired nine birdies in a round of 64 around the Portmarnock links.
In the final round at Royal St George's, Bjorn needed three attempts to get out of sand on the 16th hole. He had also incurred a two-stroke penalty in a bunker on the opening day.
Bjorn, however, afforded a broad smile when he splashed out of a trap at Portmarnock's second hole - his 11th of the day - and saw the ball roll up to the flag and drop in.
 | IRISH OPEN LEADERBOARD (GB & Ire unless stated) -8 T Bjorn (Den) -6 M Campbell (NZ) -5 P Broadhurst -4 G Emerson, G Owen, P Price, S Khan, L Donald, S Gallacher |
Bjorn was three under par at the turn, then had an eventful final fives holes on his back nine with a bogey five at the eighth interrupting a run of four birdies.
"What happened at Sandwich will be with me until I win a Major," said Bjorn.
"But I always do well on links courses, they suit my game, and Portmarnock is one of the best in the world."
Bjorn was two ahead of New Zealander Michael Campbell with England's Paul Broadhurst a further shot behind in the chase for the major prize in the 1.2m euro event.
In-form Welshman Philip Price was again up with the leaders at four under alongside English quartet of Greg Owen, Simon Khan, Gary Emerson and Luke Donald and Scotland's Stephen Gallacher.
Further back with a first-round 69 was Sheffield's Mark Roe, also trying to put a painful Sandwich experience behind him. "Is this my card?" asked Roe out loud as he walked onto the tee and was handed a scorecard by the official starter.
Roe was disqualified from the Open on Saturday when he and playing partner Jesper Parnevik forgot to exchange cards at the start of their rounds.
Tournament and local favourite Padraig Harrington also fired a 69 and was very much in contention, but Ulsterman Darren Clarke endured another topsy-turvy round of 75.
He had four bogeys, a double-bogey at the first - his 10th - and tossed in three birdies to save some face with a 75.
Jose-Maria Olazabal is in the group on three under while Welshman Ian Woosnam had two bogeys inside the opening three holes and had to be content with a par round of 72.
Meanwhile, Andy Sutton, who caddied for shock Open champion Ben Curtis, was back with his usual boss John Bickerton - and returned a one-under-par 71. "I was on such a high after what happened at the weekend and, now the adrenalin is starting to come out, I'm feeling drained," said Sutton, who had never met Curtis until picking up his bag.
"I'm still being asked to do interviews and I'm enjoying my five minutes of fame. Everyone's been congratulating me and we had a bit of a laugh on the course today.''
MMIX
E-mail this to a friend 
Printable version 
I was on such a high after what happened at the weekend and, now the adrenalin is starting to come out 
