Irish Open: Danny Willett and Rory McIlroy teeing up a duel after opening day

It may be early days at the Dubai Duty Free Irish Open but tournament host Rory McIlroy and Masters champion Danny Willett are shaping up for the sort of big-name duel this event has been crying out for.

Willett leads at the K Club following a seven-under-par 65 that showed no signs of the Augusta National-induced fatigue that followed his remarkable maiden major victory over Lee Westwood and Jordan Spieth a month ago.

Leading the chase of golf’s newest major winner is world number three McIlroy, so desperate to win his national open that he admitted last night the thought was giving him goosebumps.