Dougherty impresses early

Nick Dougherty, without a single top-10 finish since last August, reminded everybody of his talent when The Irish Open began at a wet and windy Baltray today.

Four birdies in six holes around the turn lifted the Liverpool 26-year-old to four-under-par and alongside Finland’s little-known Roope Kakko, who owed his place in the event to his top-10 finish in last week’s Italian Open.