Moriarty Enjoys Madeira with 67

Colm Moriarty announced his return to action at the Madeira Islands Open - Portugal carding seven birdies on Thursday to sign for an opening round 67 to trail the leader by three shots.

Spaniard Alvaro Velasco stormed into the lead in the first round of the Madeira Islands Open – Portugal with a superb eight under par 64 at Santo da Serra.

The 30 year old, who won the 2010 Challenge Tour Rankings, had nine birdies and a bogey to lead by two from five players – English trio Tommy Fleetwood, Ben Parker and Oliver Wilson, Swedes Magnus A Carlsson and Joakim Lagergren and Denmark’s Morten Orum Madsen.

Velasco, who lost his card last season after finishing 127th in The Race to Dubai, nine spots from safety, said: “I was consistent all day and I putted very well. I gave myself many good birdie chances and managed to hole a lot of them.

“If you hit it in the right spots the course is quite easy, but if you’re in the wrong place it’s easy to get in trouble.

“I had a good week in Sicily, where I was ninth, but I can’t remember the last time I made such a good start to a tournament. My putter has been working well lately and I’m feeling confident.

“I’ve played this course once before, in 2008, and I was fifth, so I have good memories of it, although this year it is playing completely differently as it is so firm and different shots are required.”

Fleetwood’s opening effort was a far cry from his first round 80 in last week’s Reale Seguros Open de España, which he admits was the worst he has played since turning professional two years ago.

“It was a pretty stress-free round today,” said the 21 year old rookie, who topped last season’s Challenge Tour Rankings. “I missed a few chances but overall I played well. I’ve been saying for a while that I’m very close to playing great, and it’s certainly nice to open with a round that isn’t 80.

“The longest putt I had for birdie all round was about four feet, so I hit it close and holed out well, but didn’t hole any long ones.

“Today the course was very much for the taking. It doesn’t get much easier than that. There were a few pins tucked away but it’s the best chance of scoring you’re going to get so it was good to take advantage.

“It’s nice to be in the mix early on. Three more rounds of 66 would be nice. My swing felt great today so I hope I can build on this over the next few days.”

Half the field for the €675,000 event is made up of Challenge Tour players, and Madsen took advantage of the increased prize fund with his fine start. The 24 year old was similarly explosive at the beginning of his last tournament, carding a 64 at the Barclays Kenya Open, only to fade away at the weekend.

“It’s very exciting and it’s nice to get off to a great start, but it's a tough field and there’s a long way to go,” said Madsen, who shares the same home club as Thomas Björn. “Hopefully I can still be up there on Sunday, but you never know in golf.

“I made a great start in Kenya a few weeks ago and was leading after two rounds, but didn't handle myself well over the weekend, so hopefully I have learned from that experience."

Simon Thornton signed for a first round 76.

Dara Ford was two strokes further adrift on a six over par 78.

Harrington Opens Players with 69

Pádraig Harrington was four shots off the clubhouse lead after his first round of the Players Championship at TPC Sawgrass on Thursday. The Dubliner shot a three-under-par 69 to trail early leader Blake Adams by three, before England’s Ian Poulter signed for a 65 after five birdies on the back nine.

The Englishman was two under at the turn thanks to three birdies and a bogey, but three consecutive birdies from 10 and two more at 16 and 17 ensured he led the way this evening.

The 36-year-old from Adams, from Georgia, who has yet to win on the PGA Tour, fired five consecutive birdies prior to the turn before a bogey on the 10th and further birdies at 12 and 15.

South Korean-born American Kevin Na, who started on the backnine, was a stroke back at five-under after a 67, despite a double-bogey on the first hole, his 10th.

Former world number one Tiger Woods was two-over through 17 holes after mixing five bogeys with three birdies.

Harrington birdied three of the four par-fives and also picked up shots at the par-three third and 13th. There were bogeys at six and eight, however, meaning the three-time major winner had to settle for a 69.

Graeme McDowell and Rory McIlroy were due out in the evening.

The Players Championship Live Scoring

Irish Open Tickets Selling Out

Tickets for the Irish Open golf tournament at the famous Royal Portrush course have almost sold out with six weeks still to go before tee-off.

The European Tour, which is staging the competition, said sales have exceeded all its expectations and are set to top 100,000 for the week-long event at the end of June.

The tournament is being held north of the Irish border for the first time in almost 60 years - a move prompted by the unprecedented success of the region's top golfers in the world game.

Northern Ireland Major winners Rory McIlroy, Graeme McDowell and Darren Clarke are all set to play, as is three-time Major winner from Dublin Padraig Harrington and last year's USPGA champion, American Keegan Bradley.

The Tour said it was taking what it described as the "unprecedented step" of advising all fans planning to attend to purchase their tickets in advance to avoid missing out on the action.

It has also helped draw up a traffic and transportation plan to ensure easier access to the event without causing disruption to residents. Park and ride services and extra bus and train links were announced at a promotional event in Belfast.

Antonia Beggs, championship director of the Irish Open, said "The combination of substantial advance ticket sales and the success of the home-grown Irish players were the catalysts behind today's important announcement in Belfast."

A European Tour statement said: "Pre-tournament ticket sales for the championship, being staged in Northern Ireland for the first time in almost 60 years, have exceeded all expectations since the spectacular links on the Antrim coastline was named as the host venue in January. Consequently, the weekend is now close to being a sell-out.

"Such is the demand to see Major champions Rory McIlroy, Darren Clarke, Graeme McDowell, Padraig Harrington and American Keegan Bradley along with a host of world-class names, that close to 100,000 spectators are expected in total at Royal Portrush over the practice day on Tuesday June 26, the pro-am day on Wednesday June 27 and the four competition days from Thursday June 28 to Sunday July 1."

Northern Ireland Tourism Minister Arlene Foster welcomed high ticket sales. She said: "Such is the interest in the Irish Open that the European Tour believes the weekend could be a sell-out. This is fantastic news, as increased ticket sales will result in increased revenue."