Murphy shares lead at Carnoustie

YOU don’t win 72-hole golf tournaments on the first day, but three of the six strong Irish challenge in the Dunhill Links are sitting nicely after yesterday’s opening round in surprisingly agreeable weather conditions over the Old Course at St Andrews, Carnoustie and Kingsbarns.

Gary Murphy, who only got into the event on a sponsor’s invitation, overcame very obvious flu symptoms to shoot a superb 66 at Carnoustie, a links widely regarded as one of the toughest in the game, to share the lead with the little-know Scot Simon Yates and last year’s Murphys Irish Open champion Soren Hansen.

Darren Clarke continued his recent run of good form by finishing on 67. Over at St Andrews, Dubliner Peter Lawrie really enjoyed himself on his way to another splendid round of 67.