Hole-in-one at Fota as McDowell starts strongly

England’s Danny Willett got the first hole-in-one of the tournament this morning on the 7th hole at Fota Island. That and two birdies put him at seven-under for the tournament, just three shots off the top.

England’s Danny Willett scored the first hole-in-one of the tournament this morning on the 7th hole at Fota Island.

That ace and two birdies put him at seven-under for the tournament, just three shots off the top.

Hole in 1 on 7 Danny Willet @FotaIslandGolf pic.twitter.com/XlXh7D2xKO

— tony desmond (@tonydes16) June 21, 2014

Graeme McDowell has just teed off shooting par on the first two holes. A birdie on the third puts him at nine-under, with just one shot to make up between himself and the overnight leader Finland’s Mikko Ilonen.

Deep in thought @IrishOpen2014 #ieopen #harrington pic.twitter.com/KL0yl3P4gn

— Eilish Sutton (@eilishsutton) June 21, 2014

Padraig Harrington started his round with two pars but disaster struck on the third hole with a double bogey meaning he is now six shots off the lead.

Harrington had a very solid day of golf yesterday, with five birdies and a bogey leaving him at six-under-par for the tournament. He will be hoping for an improvement after this morning’s rocky start.

Darren Clarke has been on the course since 9.20am and has had a mixed round so far. Three birdies have been cancelled out by two bogeys and a double bogey, leaving him one-over for the day so far and at one-under for the tournament.

Peter Lawrie has just completed his round, and one-under today leaves him two-under for the tournament.

The leader Mikko Ilonen is on the second hole, with a par on the first. He has been joined at ten-under by France’s Romain Wattel who has birdied the first two holes.