Eagle finish gets Lyle off to a flyer in search of maiden win

TWO-TIME Major champion Sandy Lyle closed with a superb eagle for an opening round 66 to set the pace in the Handa Irish Senior Open presented by Fáilte Ireland, as he chases his maiden European Senior Tour title.

The home challenge is led by Jimmy Heggarty, Denis O’Sullivan and Des Smyth, who all posted level par rounds of 72 for a 14-way share 20th place, alongside former world number one Woosnam.

A sublime three iron approach shot from 214 yards, into the wind, on the picturesque finishing hole at Carton House set up the eagle chance from 12 feet for Lyle. The former Open and Masters Champion holed it to move one stroke clear of Frenchman Marc Farry at the top of the leaderboard.

Lyle had earlier posted five birdies, dropping just one shot when he found the fairway bunker on the fifth hole, and his stunning eagle meant he equalled the course record of six under par shared by Nick O’Hern Titch Moore, Oliver Wilson and Thomas Björn.

“Anytime you finish with an eagle on the last hole and you are four under after 17 is special,” said the Scot. “I was just hoping I could make birdie and I got an eagle out of it. I had two good shots there into 12 feet into the wind so it was a great way to finish.

“I was very happy with the round. The course is playing really good. It is a little easier than when I played on the European Tour here a few years ago. The rough is cut back considerably, and we didn’t have too much wind today so it was up for grabs.”

Marc Farry opened with six birdies and a bogey in his round of 67, which was also his lowest Senior Tour round.

The former European Tour winner believes the course, designed by Colin Montgomerie, suits big hitters such as Lyle and himself.

“I really hit the ball well today and I missed a short putter on the last hole but I accept 67 as a good start,” he said. “It’s my best round so far on the Senior Tour. This course suits me as it is longer and helps the long ball strikers we have on this tour.”

Englishman Glenn Ralph, winner of last year’s Cleveland Golf/Srixon Scottish Senior Open, and South African Christopher Williams are a further shot back on four under par with another Englishman, Andrew Murray, in fifth place after a 69.

Sam Torrance, the 2002 Ryder Cup captain, eagled the last hole but that was only good enough for a two over par 74, the same as his former Ryder Cup team-mate Eamonn Darcy.