It’s home sweet home for Lowry

Shane Lowry embraced the pressure as a privilege and combined power and accuracy with some of his trademark short game genius to lead the Irish challenge alongside new dad Michael Hoey after the opening round of a rain-soaked Irish Open at Carton House.

Despite a forecast that predicted just a light sprinkling for the early starters, the touring professional for the stunning Maynooth venue was completely unperturbed by some heavy rainfall as he carded a five-under-par 67 to share second place with Hoey, Jean Baptiste Gonnet of France, American rookie Peter Uihlein and Dutchman Joost Luiten.

As 29-year old Swede Oscar Floren shrugged off a niggling foot injury to fire an immaculate, six-under-par 66 to head the field, the rain did little for the attendance on the roomy Montgomerie Course.