'It's silage': Rough halts Cork teenager John Doyle's dream Irish Open start

On Wednesday, Shane Lowry “bumped” into Doyle, “to introduce myself,” Lowry explained. It must be nice when it’s the major winner who’s introducing himself. Of course, Lowry knows what it’s like to be an amateur in this field.

ROUGH START: John Doyle, an 18-year-old Leaving Cert student from Mitchelstown, is the only amateur in the field at this year’s Irish Open at the K Club. Pic: ©INPHO/Bryan Keane

When John Doyle’s third shot to his first hole at the Irish Open hit the green a few feet from the hole, spun backward and missed what would have been an eagle by inches, it felt like something special could be brewing.

That feeling continued when he sank the subsequent birdie putt, and then followed it with another birdie on the 11th. Two-under thru two. Dream start.