From Paul Gallagher at Fota Island
A five way tie at the top of a busy leaderboard, one veteran Irishman lurking just one shot off the pace and a notable performance by Ireland's most recent addition to the paid ranks were the main stories on the opening day of the Murphy's Irish Open at Fota Island in Cork today.
A rejuvenated Des Smyth (49) fired a four-under par 67 to get within a shot of the lead held by an international eclectic of nations; Sweden's Joakim Haeggman, American Fred Funk, Australian Peter O'Malley, Argentina's Eduardo Romero and England's Nick Dougherty.
"That might be one of my lowest opening rounds in the Irish Open," said Smyth after being told in the press conference it was his 28th consecutive national Open.
"It's ironic because I've been playing so poorly of late and my iron play has been particularly awful," explained Smyth who was pleased to have found form knowing the British Open is only three weeks away.
"Last week I moved the ball further back in my stance and I started to strike my irons well again. I would like to go to the Open with my game in some sort of decent shape and rounds like today certainly help the confidence."
Smyth was also quick to play down any suggestion of challenging for honours from this position, "I don't want to think about winning just yet. I came here to try and make the cut first and foremost," he said then joked, "all the same, it would be nice if you guys needed to speak to me come Sunday."
As usual Ireland's two top ranked players in Padraig Harrington and Darren Clarke shouldered most of the expectation from the home support, but it was to be a slow start for both men as they covered the Cork parkland in level par 71's.
Clarke, yet again, struggled to find his touch on the greens. "I missed two greens (in regulation) all day and still I could only one putt on two occasions. That was not the start to the Irish Open I was looking for."
With the pressure to produce an Irish winner since John O'Leary did 20 year's ago Smyth was quick to sympathise with the two main Irish protagonists.
"I feel for the big players like Padraig and Darren, all the pressure is on them not players like me," professed the modest Droghedaman.
Clarke's fellow Ulsterman, and new blood on the European Tour, Graeme McDowell, was a breath of fresh air when evaluating his one-under par 70.
"I felt much more comfortable out there than I did last week (Great North Open)," said the Portrush golfer in only his second start as a professional. "My aim is to stick as close to the leaders as I can and we'll see what happens over the weekend," was the speak of an affable yet confident young man intent on making the cut and more.
The defending champion Colin Montgomerie alongside his playing partner Lee Westwood completed their good work during the morning, shooting a pair of 67's. Afterwards Monty spoke kindly of Westwood's apparent return to form.
"Lee was very impressive today, he putted well and I'm delighted to see he was on top of the leaderboard at one point," said the Scot. Asked about his own round and the defending champion was decidedly upbeat.
"I birdied the first which was a bloody quick start . . . playing some of the coastal holes is difficult in the wind so I am delighted to have got round in 67."
Also this morning, veteran Eamonn Darcy flattered to deceive but eventually had to settle for a two-under par 69, the same score as David Higgins. The unorthodox 49-year-old had taken a share of the lead on five-under at one point but a double-bogey at the fifth, his 14th, and bogeys on the final two holes put paid to earlier aspirations.
"I drove the ball poorly all day but putted well up until the last two holes," said Darcy who bogeyed both closing holes before confirming that his 31-year European Tour will shortly be coming to an end.
"I just want to play four rounds here at Fota knowing this will be my second last event, my last will be the European Open at the K-Club next week," said Darcy. He intends to take his chances at the US PGA Tour School in November and try to qualify for the lucrative US Senior Tour after he turns 50 in August.
It's worth sparing a thought for Seve Ballesteros who appears to have plunged to new depths of despair on the fairways as he was disqualified today.
The mercurial Spaniard from yesteryear started his inward half with a nine at the par five 10th and then signed off, amazingly, for what he believed was a 10 but was in fact a 12 at the par five 18th. He later realised the error in his hotel and immediately phoned the tournament referee John Paramour who was left with no option but to disqualify Ballesteros. What was looking like a dismal 87 was in fact an 89.
Before this tournament started, the consensus of opinion was that, after a 20 year laspe without an Irish winner, this could finally be the year, perhaps a Clarke or a Harrington. Little did people think, it could come in the form of one of the oldest and affable players in the field. Today's round may have come as a surprise for Des Smyth himself, but should he go on and win, a more worthy winner you couldn't meet.
Irish scores: par 71
Des Smyth 67
Eamonn Darcy 69
David Higgins 69
Graeme McDowell 70
Darren Clarke 71
Padraig Harrington 71
Philip Walton 71
Stephen Hamill 71
Noel Fox (a) 73
Colm Moriarty (a) 73
Damian Mooney 73
Michael Hoey 74
Richie Coughlan 74
Michael Allan 74
Francis Howley 74
John Dignam 74
John Dwyer 75
David Walker 78