Roe enjoys return to Ireland

Mark Roe, who shot rounds of 80 and 85 and finished dead last on his last trip to Ireland, had a rather more enjoyable experience today.

The 41-year-old began the Nissan Irish Open in Co Louth with a five-under-par 67 to set the early clubhouse target, although out on the course Australian Peter Lonard stood seven under after 15 holes and Scotland’s Sandy Lyle six under after only 12 holes.

Roe vowed never to return to the K Club’s Smurfit Course after his miserable experience there at the start of this month.

But of Co Louth he said: “I loved it the second I saw it. It’s a beautiful, traditional links.

“Sometimes you feel you’re going to play well because you like it. I couldn’t see a way to get round at the K Club, but this feels totally different.”

Roe had an unusual start, though. He was on the green in two at the 429-yard 10th, but with a large mound between him and the flag elected to chip rather than putt.

“I took a divot and then took great care and attention to repair it,” he said. “It all looked nice and tidy when I finished and I just couldn’t see another way to get close.”

He parred the hole, bogeyed the next, but then had seven birdies before finding two bunkers at the 419-yard ninth and finishing with another bogey.

Roe, disqualified from last year’s Open when lying joint fourth after forgetting to swap scorecards with Jesper Parnevik, missed last week’s championship at Troon and instead took his children to EuroDisney.

“I was more excited about seeing Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse than they were. But I’m not big on queuing,” he said.

Lonard turned in a two-under-par 33 but really made hay on the front nine with birdies at the first, third and fourth and then an eagle at the 531-yard sixth.

Lyle, who finished last of those who made the cut at Troon, made his move around the turn, following birdies at the 18th, first and second with an eagle on the 544-yard third.

Alongside Roe was Holland’s Robert-Jan Derksen, Australian Nick O’Hern and Swede Niclas Fasth, while favourite Darren Clarke followed 11 straight pars with three birdies in the next four.

Spain’s Santiago Luna had a hole-in-one on the 173-yard fifth.