Murphy’s Irish Open: Darcy sets early pace

Eamonn Darcy set the early pace at the Murphy's Irish Open at Fota Island.

Darcy, playing on a sponsor's invitation after losing his European tour card last season, charged to six under par after 16 holes of his first round.

Not only is the former Ryder Cup star trying to become the first home winner of the title since John O'Leary in 1982, at 48 he would also be the oldest European tour winner ever if he triumphs on Sunday.

Des Smyth holds that distinction after capturing the Madeira Island Open, but Darcy turned back the clock as well by covering the back nine first in a three-under 32 and then grabbing further birdies at the third, fifth and sixth.

It was just like the old days as Darcy's playing partner Sandy Lyle, whose last victory was the 1992 Volvo Masters, was three under par himself.

The Irishman held a one-stroke lead over Norwegian Henrik Bjornstad, with German Sven Struver alone in third place at four under with three holes to play.

Darren Clarke looked like the home player to the fore when he also turned in 32 and birdied the first - his 10th - to stand four under.

But the Northern Irishman, who has never finished higher than 15th in the tournament, then bogeyed the second and seventh.

In contrast Padraig Harrington, concerned about a wrist injury on the eve of the event, had a hat-trick of birdies from the fourth to be three under and then had another on the difficult eighth to join Struver.