Nightmare start for Padraig Harrington at the Irish Open

Tournament host Rory McIlroy was among the later starters as he looked to end a streak of three straight missed cuts in his home event.

Former winners Ross Fisher and Padraig Harrington experienced contrasting starts when the Dubai Duty Free Irish Open got under way at the K Club on Thursday.

As heavy rain showers greeted the early starters, 2010 champion Fisher birdied three of his first five holes to move to the top of the leaderboard, a shot ahead of Wales's Bradley Dredge and England's Andrew Johnston.