Little early cheer for home fans at Irish Open

Padraig Harrington’s four-over-par 76 left Europe’s Ryder Cup captain frustrated while Shane Lowry also had a mixed  start 

 Shane Lowry of Ireland watches his drive from the 10th tee box 

Shane Lowry was left cursing a lost ball and a failure to make hay on the other par-five holes as his Dubai Duty Free Irish Open title bid got off to a slow start at Mount Juliet on Thursday.

The lost ball at the par-five fifth tee, Lowry’s 14th hole of the opening round, was one of two bogeys in an opening round of two-under 70 as the crowds returned to the European Tour event in Ireland for the first time since Lahinch in 2019.