Tweet fighter: McIlroy cuts up rough to defend caddie

FROM sweet striking to tweet fighting, 18,000 golf fans had plenty to chew over after the opening day of the Irish Open in Killarney.

Overseas raiders Jeev Milkha Singh of India and France’s Alexandre Kaleka head affairs, but a clutch of Irish thoroughbreds are hovering with intent. The country’s quartet of major winners are all within striking distance, but Colm Moriarty bested them all with a 67 that leaves the Athlone man four behind Singh.

Rory McIlroy produced a wonder shot to extricate himself from trouble at the 14th hole, but after hooking an approach into water on the last for a double bogey, he waded further into deep water with a post-round Twitter attack on former European Tour pro Jay Townsend.

The RTÉ analyst Townsend described McIlroy and caddie JP Fitzgerald’s course management as “shocking” and “some of the worst I have ever seen beyond under-10s’ boys golf competition”.

That provoked the US Open champion to fire up his Twitter account, replying to Townsend: “Shut up… you’re a commentator and a failed golfer, your opinion means nothing!”

McIlroy said there had been history between Townsend and his caddie over the last few years. “He’s been having a go at JP every now and again since then and this was the first time I’ve responded — it was the straw that broke the camel’s back.”