Haeggman makes early running

Swede Joakim Haeggman was the surprise early clubhouse leader on the first day of the Murphy’s Irish Open at Fota Island.

Haeggman became the first Swedish player to gain Ryder Cup honours at The Belfry back in 1993 but he has just one top-10 finish to his name all season and went into the tournament in 85th place in the Order of Merit.

Starting at the 10th, the 32-year-old reached the turn in two under par but his round came alive with an eagle three at the fourth hole.

Haeggman bogeyed the eighth - his 17th - but regained the shot at the last to set the target on five-under-par 66.

Lee Westwood also made a welcome return to form as Colin Montgomerie made a good start to his bid for a record fourth win in the event.

Westwood has had a miserable time of late with four missed cuts from his last five starts.

With his world ranking having plummeted dramatically, he failed to gain a place in the US Open but after a two week rest, he was back to his best with six birdies and one dropped shot as he moved to five under par after 17.

Montgomerie, who won the tournament by five shots last year having opened with a 63, also started at the 10th and three birdies and one bogey on his opening nine took him to the turn in 33.

The Scot picked up further shots at the first and third to move to four under par with playing the last.

Irish veteran Eamon Darcy has his sights firmly set on the Seniors Tour when he turns 50 in August but the veteran Dubliner rolled back the years with an outward four-under-par 31 and he picked up another shot at the fourth (his 13th) to move to five under and a share of the lead with Haeggman, Westwood and England’s Nick Dougherty.