Master Willett Leads at The K Club

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Danny Willett leads Rory McIlroy by two shots after the first round of the Irish Open after eight birdies and a bogey in a seven-par-under 65 at the K Club.

McIlroy posted a 67 as he bids to improve his recent poor form at his home tournament, which has seen him miss three straight cuts at the event.

Callum Shinkwin and Jaco Van Zyl lie a shot behind McIlroy, with Soren Kjeldsen, Ross Fisher, Martin Kaymer and Brett Rumford three under.

World number three McIlroy, whose Rory Foundation is hosting the tournament, is seeking a first win of the season after six top-10 finishes.

The Northern Irishman recorded three birdies on his front nine, and picked up a further three shots on his inward nine, including a birdie at the 18th.

Willett showed much improved form after missing the cut at last week's Players Championship at Sawgrass, his first appearance since winning the first major of the season at Augusta.

The 28-year-old's round of 65 was only one shot off the course record set by South African Charl Schwartzel in 2003.

Heavy rain greeted the early starters but 2010 champion Fisher defied the difficult conditions to birdie three of the first five holes.

The Englishman's 69 saw him secure the clubhouse lead, along with two-time major winner Kaymer.

Shinkwin and Van Zyl bettered their scores by one, while defending champion Kjeldsen remains well in contention four shots off the lead, the same score as Australian Rumford.

Shane Lowry, who won the title as an amateur in 2009, ended one over, with 2007 champion Padraig Harrington five shots worse off after carding two double-bogeys on his front nine.

Graeme McDowell joined Lowry on one under, with Lee Westwood level par and European Ryder Cup captain Darren Clarke one over.

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McGee and Phelan Added to K Club

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Ruaidhri McGee and Kevin Phelan have accepted invitations from Sport Ireland to compete in the Dubai Duty Free Irish Open which gets underway at The K Club next Thursday (19 May). 

This allows both players to start in a full European Tour event alongside some of the leading players in the world including Masters champion Danny Willett and Ireland's own Rory McIlroy. 

McGee, whose best finish of the season so far came on the Challenge Tour in Madrid where he was tied ninth can't wait to tee it up next week. 

"It's huge. It's such a big tournament the Irish Open. Obviously being my home tournament it's great to get to play in it. It could make a huge difference to the season. You have a good week there and it could change everything. 

"Sport Ireland have helped me out for the past three years now, it's been huge. I don't if I'd be where I am now without their support. I probably couldn't have played nearly as much as I have without it. It's been a great help." 

John Treacy, CEO Sport Ireland commented "I am delighted that Sport Ireland, through its sponsorship of the Irish Open, has been able to offer invitations to two emerging Irish golfers, Kevin Phelan and Ruaidhri McGee. This will provide both players with the opportunity to play in a top class European Tour event on home soil and also to help further their careers as professional golfers." 

Both McGee and Phelan received financial assistance this year from Sport Ireland as part of the Team Ireland Golf fund which is administered by the Confederation of Golf in Ireland. 

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McIlroy Shoots 67 at Quail

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Rory McIlroy’s finished his second round at the Wells Fargo Championship signing for a 67 on seven under par overall.

A poor pitch at the par 5 looked to have left him too much to do on the green but he rattled home from 30 feet - further proof that the work he did on his putting with Dave Stockton in the last few days is paying off.

On Friday the four-time major winner was in full flow and looked determined to take the tournament by the scruff of the neck going into the weekend.

When his drive at the 14th ran through the green 345 yards away minds were beginning to wander towards the possibility of the Northern Irishman breaking his own course record of 62 at the North Carolina resort.

However a sloppy chip left him with too much to do for birdie and an excellent chance of going three under par after five holes was squandered.

That missed opportunity perhaps played a part in McIlroy’s deceleration as he only managed one birdie in the next eight holes.

That trend was broken with a birdie at the fifth, his 14th, before another typically glorious drive was only stopped from crawling onto the green at the par 4 eighth by the front bunker.

From there a controlled splash shot to four feet was enough to claim another birdie before a par at the ninth saw him sign for a 67.

McIlroy’s round was somewhat less eventful than that of tournament leader Martin Flores.

The world number 248 finished third at Quail Hollow last year and this year’s performance is certainly appeasing the notion that certain golf courses just suit certain players.

Flores has missed four of his last six cuts but that poor form has been exorcised by the fairways and greens of Quail Hollow as eight birdies and three bogies eventually resulted in a 67 that catapulted him to the top of the leaderboard.

He is joined at the summit by American compatriot Patrick Rodgers who is eight under par with three holes to play.

Patrick Reed slipped back down the leaderboard during the second round, thanks to a two over par round of 74.

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