Harrington Hopeful of Home Advantage

Padraig Harrington hopes to draw on the inspiration of Royal Portrush’s sell-out crowd as he battles for victory in The Irish Open.

The three-time Major winner, whose last European Tour victory was the 2008 US PGA Championship, goes into the final round two behind Jamie Donaldson in a share of third place.

The other four players in the top five have just two European Tour titles between them – fewer than the number of Majors Harrington has to his name.

But while home advantage, experience and the backing of packed galleries may make Harrington a slight favourite, the 40 year old is taking nothing for granted.

“I would be very determined anyway,” said Harrington, who won this event in 2007. “You've got to use the home crowd in your favour.

“You've got to let them carry you when you need to be carried and don't get carried away by them. Obviously don't allow yourself to be let down in any way in terms of, if you feel like you're letting them down, you have to fight that urge. It has to be managed, but definitely can be a big positive.

“In a perfect world, you would say that there's a home winner, but this ain't no exhibition, I can guarantee you that. There's nobody going out there tomorrow thinking, oh, we'll let the Irish guy win. It doesn't work like that.

“The downside of a hometown crowd, actually there is no downside in the sense of, if you're not playing well, it doesn't matter. You feel disappointed; you feel like you've let people down. But, hey, you're not winning the tournament.

“The upside is you're getting carried along and you are winning the tournament. If somebody’s out in front, you can get some momentum and certainly, I would say it's only a positive in terms of trying to win a tournament, having the home crowd, no doubt about it.

“So would I give it a percentage? I don't know. It's certainly 20 per cent, 25 per cent help on your performance. It's significant.”

EuroPro Tour Returns to Fota Island

The 888poker.com PGA EuroPro Tour returns to Fota Island Resort next month for the second Audi Cork Irish Masters.

After the unqualified success of the 2011 event, the EuroPro will be back at Fota Island Resort between July 4 and 6 this year.

Fota Island Resort, twice host to the Irish Open, has three championship golf courses set in beautiful parkland scenery, of which The Belvelly is one, which hosted last year’s event, and The Deerpark is another, where this year’s 888poker.com PGA EuroPro Tour is being held.

A par 71, 6927-yard course which hosted the Irish Open in 2001 and 2002, The Deerpark at Fota Island Resort, with its receptive greens and strategic bunkering, impresses even the most experienced professionals.

The Deerpark course also has one of Ireland’s most famously picturesque golf holes, the lovely 18th island green, a par 5, narrow tree-lined tee shot to the top of the hill and on to the island green in front of the club house.

The ultimate risk and reward hole, this hole was chosen by Padraig Harrington as his favourite 18th hole. "I don't think you can get a more beautiful golf hole,” he said.

“ The setting is gorgeous… you get to the top of the hill and it is all presented to you... the clubhouse, the lake, mature trees, bunkers, shrubs - magnificent. And doesn't everybody like being faced with a downhill shot to a big green!”

“There is little doubt that Fota Island Resort provides one of the best courses on the 888poker.com PGA EuroPro Tour,” said Danny Nickless, Operations Manager for the 888poker.com PGA EuroPro Tour.

“Last season’s event on The Belvelly was incredibly successful and Fota Island Resort proved a big hit with the players. Fota Island Resort will again provide a challenging, scenic and exciting test for our players on The Deerpark this year, and we're sure they will relish returning to the venue in July."

“Audi Cork is proud to continue our sponsorship of the Irish Masters at Fota Island Resort,” said a statement from Audi Cork. “After the huge success and positive feedback from last year’s event, here at Audi Cork we are more than happy to support this prestigious event in the county, and are looking forward to another hugely successful tournament.”

Paul Reed claimed the £10,000 winner’s cheque when Fota Island Resort made its debut on the Tour last summer, and a field of 118 players will take part in the three-day Audi Cork Irish Masters this year, all no doubt eager to follow in his footsteps! With all golfers playing two rounds, a cut is then made and the top 50 players plus ties progress to the decisive final day.

Entry for spectators is free.

Double Costs Clarke Sunday Chance

Darren Clarke moved into contention at Royal Portrush on Saturday after a birdie-eagle start to his third round in an Irish Open that means so much to him as Northern Ireland has not hosted it since 1953.

However  the Open champion ran up a double-bogey seven on the long 17th during the worst of the wind and rain.

"We couldn't reach the fairway - it was a 250-yard carry and we were only hitting it 235," said Clarke, giving a wry smile as conditions eased the moment he finished with a 73 for three under.

After finding the left rough his eight-iron second went only 80 yards, his third found a bunker short of the green and then he three-putted.

"That's Royal Portrush. That's links golf. It's much easier now," he added.

"My goal was maybe to finish eight under and I had chances to do it. It was the conditions I wanted and I didn't capitalise."

At least the 43-year-old was getting more competitive golf under his belt.

He had not made a cut all year until this week and was returning after a month's absence resting a groin strain.

Clarke also has next week's French Open in Paris before his defence of The Open a fortnight later.

Meadow is British Amateur Champion

Photo: LGU

Northern Ireland's Stephanie Meadow is the new Ladies British Open Amateur champion. She beat Spain's Rocio Sanchez Lobato 4 and 3 in the final at Carnoustie this afternoon with an impressive display of sub-par golf at at the gallope - the match was completed in under three hours.

The 20-year-old from Jordanstown, a student at the University of Alabama and No 20 in the World Amateur Rankings, was three up after only six holes against her 19-year-old Spanish opponent, Rocio Sanchez Lobato from Marbella and the University of Georgia, ranked No 193.

Both players started a shade nervously and took three shots apiece to reach the putting surface at the first hole. But Meadow rammed home her 8ft putt to win the hole with a par 4.

She doubled her lead with another par at the second and after a half in birdies at the third, Meadow surged three up with a birdie 3 at the fourth.

The Spanish girl got on the scoreboard at the fifth, winning that hole to cut her deficit to two. Meadow was bunkered off the tee at the fifth.

But the confident Meadow, with her dad Robert as her caddie, was not to be dented. She won both the sixth and seventh with par figures to be four up on the eighth tee. Lobato was almost out of bounds off the tee at the sixth and completely mishit her third.

Lobato was not ready to throw in the towel, however. She hit back with a birdie 2 at the short eighth to be three down. 

The ninth was halved in pars, leaving Meadow in the strong position of three up at leathe turn.

After a half at the 10th, Meadow went four up with her third birdie of the round at the 11th.

Again her Spanish opponent countered with a winning birdie, at the 12th to pull Stephanie back again to a three-hole lead. Meadow birdied the short 13th - almost holing her eight-iron tee shot - to be four up with five to play.

In a quality finish to an absorbing final, the 14th was halved in birdie 4s and then the 13th in par, leaving Meadow - who estimated she was three or four under par - the winner by 4 and 3.

The victory earns Stephanie a place in the field for the Ricoh Women's British Open at Hoylake in September. 

Donaldson Climbs Top of Leaderboard

Jamie Donaldson, without a European Tour win in 254 starts, led The Irish Open midway through his third round at wet and windy Royal Portrush.

Despite the difficult conditions the 36 year old was in inspired form on the greens, grabbing an eagle and three birdies on the front nine.

There were also two bogeys on his card, but at 12 under par Donaldson was two in front of English pair Anthony Wall and Paul Waring, making his first appearance for over a year following wrist surgery and nerve problems.

Overnight leader Grégory Bourdy had three bogeys in his first six holes and leading Irish hope Padraig Harrington two in seven, but both were still well in touch at nine and eight under respectively.

Open Champion Darren Clarke, having made his first halfway cut of the year, reached seven under with a birdie-eagle start, but by the time he ran up a double bogey seven on the long 17th he was back to three under.

The other two members of Northern Ireland's "Big Three" - US Open winners Rory McIlroy and Graeme McDowell, of course - were also finding it tough to get into contention.

World Number Two McIlroy was six under with three to play and McDowell four under coming down the last.

Donaldson, who played the world amateur team championship with Luke Donald and Paul Casey in 2000, bogeyed the first after resuming two behind.

But a ten footer for eagle on the next was the start of things to come.

He saved par from 20 feet at the fourth, converted another ten foot chance on the next and then holed from 25 feet for another birdie at the short sixth.

His second dropped shot came on the difficult seventh, but as conditions finally improved he chipped to two feet at the 475 yard par five ninth and made that to turn in a superb 33.

Wall, with only one win in 401 European Tour events, did even better with a front nine 32 and made up for a six at the long tenth with a fifth birdie of the round at the next.

Waring bogeyed the first and third, but birdied the second and ninth to keep alive his dream of what would be an incredible victory after such a long enforced lay-off.

He had to seek a medical extension to The European Tour Membership this season after injuring himself during the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth Club in May last year.

Donaldson bogeyed the 412 yard 12th and with Wall grabbing birdie at the long 17th and parring the last they were level at 11 under, one ahead of Bourdy, Foster and Waring.

Harrington was two back with six to play, but McIlroy's 71 left him five back and McDowell's 73 meant he was seven adrift.

Could Padraig Win be Around Portrush Corner

Getty Images

Padraig Harrington believes a tournament win is "just around the corner", even if it doesn't come at this week's Irish Open.

The 40-year-old Dubliner finds himself well in contention at the halfway stage at Royal Portrush, a second successive 67 leaving him just two shots back of Frenchman Gregory Bourdy.

He has already won the tournament before, triumphing back in 2007, the same year he also clinched his first major at the Open at Carnoustie.

But while he has not tasted success since the 2008 US PGA Championship, Harrington is continuing to remain patient in his quest for further glory.

Buses

"As much as I would dearly love to win, it doesn't have to be this week," he said.

"I know they are around the corner and they tend to come like buses. I'll win more in the future - just be patient and let it happen.

"My three majors were distinctly different. I came out of the pack at Carnoustie (Sergio Garcia had been well clear), then at Birkdale I was the favourite I assume going into the last round.

"Maybe that's the position I'm in now and as professional golfers we have to deal with all of these things all of the time.

"We have to apply ourselves and do our own thing. But I will enjoy the crowds - I will make an effort to let myself be helped by the crowd and to be drawn into it."

The Irish Open is being staged north of the border for the first time since 1953 and has been watched by sell-out crowds.

Support

Graeme McDowell - whose own major triumphs have been instrumental in bringing the event back to Northern Ireland - admits the support shown to the players has been exceptional.

"It sounded like an Open Championship coming down 18," he said after his second round. "The crowds are clapping you from 140 yards short of the green.

"They clapped us all day going on to every green, but particularly the last six when the rain went away and the umbrellas came down.

"We all appreciate it. It's nice to play golf events amongst big crowds."

Clarke Gets into Moving Day

It took Darren Clarke just two holes to leap 29 places in the Irish Open at Royal Portrush - despite the pouring rain.

The Open champion, determined to build on making his first halfway cut of the year, birdied the first and then eagled the 528-yard second.

That burst took him from four under par to seven under and from 39th to joint 10th as the bad weather once again failed to deter fans from packing his home links.

"I'm not here to make up the numbers," Clarke stated after an opening 71 on his return from taking a month off to rest a groin strain.

Then after his second-round 69, he added: "The break was massive. I needed to get away and the injury was a bit of a blessing in disguise.

"I've tried to fulfil my role as Open champion and have been travelling all over the world, but now I feel refreshed."

Clarke has only one more event - next week's French Open - before his defence of The Open a fortnight later and he said: "I'm just not tournament sharp and it's important to have more competitive rounds."

On seven under he was five behind Gregory Bourdy, the French stablemate he had given advice to on Tuesday about how to play a course which is staging Northern Ireland's first Irish Open since 1953.

Bourdy led by one from England's Mark Foster and by two from Dubliner Padraig Harrington, the 2007 winner, Italian Lorenzo Gagli and Foster's compatriot Paul Waring, playing his first event for over a year following wrist surgery.

Rory McIlroy and Graeme McDowell both resumed five under.

Bookies Favourite is Still Harrington

Pádraig Harrington sets off in the third round firmly in contention for a second Irish Open title after another 67 at Royal Portrush on Friday. The Dubliner is best placed of the home contingent, two shots adrift of clubhouse leader Gregory Bourdy on 10 under.

The Frenchman, the joint-overnight leader with Jeev Milkha-Singh, shot a 67 himself but might have been better placed this evening had he maintained his early momentum this morning.

As it stood in the early evening, he held a one shot lead over England’s Mark Foster, while Harrington is joined by Italian Lorenzo Gagli a shot further back. India’s Milkha-Singh and Swede Mikael Lundberg were still in a position to make an impact on the frontrunners, with both nine under after 11 holes.

“I played well within myself, pretty solid all day,” said Harrington afterwards, but the three-time major winner admitted feeling unsure of his game at the moment despite a notable improvement in results of late. “I was putting for birdie most of the day and didn’t really put myself in trouble. It was as stress-free a 67 you can get in those conditions.”

He added: “I’m playing well, yes, but I know I could play a little better if I trusted it a little bit. I should be pretty confident going into the weekend but I’m not quite sure of myself.”

Harrington had just the one bogey, at the par-four fifth. He opened with consecutive birdies and added another at the eighth to turn in 34. Birdies at 10, 12 and 17 followed, before a narrow miss on the 18th green prevented him form picking up another.

A stunning back nine from local favourite Graeme McDowell saw him move to five under with a 68. The Northern Irishman came home in 32 with four birdies, after reaching the turn in a level par 36.

Rory McIlroy and Darren Clarke both shot 69 to advance to five under and four under respectively, while Paul McGinley finished poorly with two bogeys in his final three holes to sit alongside McIlroy and McDowell after he signed for a 70.

Shane Lowry is on four under with Clarke after the former winner carded a four-under 68, while Simon Thornton put together his second consecutive 70 to join them.

McIlroy prevented a fifth missed cut in his last six starts on a course where he shot a record 61 as a 16-year-old and will know he is capable of climbing in contention over the weekend.

McIlroy, with girlfriend Caroline Wozniacki in attendance at the event after her Wimbledon first round defeat, said: “The last two days have probably been the best ball-striking rounds I’ve had for a while.

“I didn’t do much wrong and hopefully I can have a good weekend. I need something around 64 or 65 to get myself into contention, but I’ve shot low scores here before. I’m hitting a lot of greens and if I take a few more chances I can turn a 69 into 65 very quickly.”

Major winner Keegan Bradley’s first-ever tournament in Europe lasted only two days, but the American believes he is now better equipped for The Open at Royal Lytham in three weeks.

Just to make the cut was important for Clarke as he has not managed that all season, but after closing with a 20-foot birdie putt he insisted there was no sense of relief because his sights are set higher than that.

His British Open defence is less than three weeks away and after a month out resting a groin strain he said: “It’s important to have more competitive rounds under my belt. I’m just not tournament sharp.

“I started nicely today, but a bogey took the wind out of my sails and I couldn’t give myself many chances after that. Conditions are getting harder and that’s a good thing. Give these guys soft conditions and not that strong a wind and they will score low. But I’ve been surprised just how low it’s been so far.”

Keegan Values Short Portrush Lesson

Major winner Keegan Bradley's first-ever tournament in Europe lasted only two days, but the American believes he is now better equipped for The Open at Royal Lytham in three weeks.

The 26-year-old USPGA champion made the trip to the Irish Open at Royal Portrush because of his Irish roots, but had rounds of 73 and 71 to bow out on level par.

Bradley did have four birdies in a row from the 11th, however, and said: "That was fun. Wish I could have kept it going, but maybe next time.

"I think I will know a little more what to expect there.

"I played pretty well other than about three shots. I just didn't play the par fives really well and had a couple of lost balls - that's no good.

"I hope to come back another time - I can't wait. Everybody treated me so well."

Bradley's victory in Atlanta last August, after a play-off with compatriot Jason Dufner, came in the very first major of his career. Since 1913 he and Ben Curtis, the 2003 Open champion, are the only players to achieve that.

Others to miss the cut included Colin Montgomerie, last week's winner Danny Willett and former US Open champion Michael Campbell.

Willett's exit had a further implication than merely giving him a weekend off. He had a chance to earn an Open spot via a mini money list that ends on Sunday, but Thai Thongchai Jaidee and South African Richard Sterne are currently in position to claim the two places on offer.

Former Walker Cup player Willett, who finished three over, could still make it to Lytham with a top-five finish in either the French or Scottish Opens.

Irish PGA Pro Barrie Trainor

"Gave it a good go today was -4 for the front 9 and parred 10-12 and got hammered twice on 13 for a double bogey 6 and at that point they put up the board that -3 was the cut mark so I knew from then it was all over. Thanks to everyone for their support, thanks."

Barrie Trainor

Challengers Close on Leader Bourdy

France's Grégory Bourdy gave the chasing pack a boost when he failed to build on a brilliant start to his Irish Open second round at Royal Portrush.

Joint overnight lead with Indian Jeev Milkha Singh, Bourdy eagled the long second and after ten holes had reached 13 under par - three clear of the field.

But then came bogeys at the 11th and 14th, both par threes, and the 30 year old's advantage was back down to one.

Italian Lorenzo Gagli was in second place on ten under after a 66 and Welshman Jamie Donaldson just one further back following a 67 that contained five successive birdies.

Home favourites Rory McIlroy and Darren Clarke both shot 69 to advance to five under and four under respectively.

For the World Number Two that prevented a fifth missed cut in his last six starts and on a course where he shot a record 61 as a 16 year old he knew he was capable of climbing in contention over the weekend.

Just to make the cut was important for Clarke - he has not managed that all season - but after closing with a 20 foot birdie putt he insisted there was no sense of relief because his sights are set higher than that.

His Open Championship defence is less than three weeks away and after a month out resting a groin strain he said: "It's important to have more competitive rounds under my belt - I'm just not tournament sharp.

"I started nicely today, but a bogey took the wind out of my sails and I couldn't give myself many chances after that.

"Conditions are getting harder and that's a good thing. Give these guys soft conditions and not that strong a wind and they will score low.

"But I've been surprised just how low it's been so far."

McIlroy, with girlfriend Caroline Wozniacki in attendance at the event after her Wimbledon first round defeat, said: "The last two days have probably been the best ball-striking rounds I've had for a while.

"I didn't do much wrong and hopefully I can have a good weekend. I need something around 64 or 65 to get myself into contention, but I've shot low scores here before.

"I'm hitting a lot of greens and if I take a few more chances I can turn a 69 into 65 very quickly."

McGinley Makes Fast Open Start

Paul McGinley made a great start to his second round at the Irish Open after an eagle and two birdies in his opening four holes moved him to seven under early on at Royal Portrush.

The Dubliner has shown a return to top form over recent weeks and after an opening round of three-under 69 he fired from the blocks this morning with an eagle three at the par-five 10th, his first hole.

A par at the short 11th was then followed by back to back birdies before the 45-year-old former Ryder Cup star dropped a shot on the par-three 14th known as Calamity Corner for a second day to move back to six under.

Frenchman Gregory Bourdy, the overnight joint leader, also flew from the traps with an eagle at the par-five second and a birdie at the short third to take the outright lead on 10 under.

Possibly buoyed by his country’s Euro 2012 semi-final success over Germany last night, Italian Lorenzo Gagli carded six birdies and a bogey in his opening nine holes to move to nine under lead.

Simon Thornton carded five birdies and a bogey in his first seven holes to move alongside McGinley on six under.

Gagli Goes Well and Clarke Inside Cut

Lorenzo Gagli produced a magnificent start to his second round at The Irish Open to join Grégory Bourdy in a share of the lead.

Having opened with a four under par 68, the Italian had seven birdies in his first 11 holes on returning to Royal Portrush and with only one bogey moved to ten under par.

Frenchman Bourdy only kept a share of the lead he enjoyed overnight with Jeev Milkha Singh by starting well himself – the three-time European Tour winner eagling the long second and birdieing the third.

Gagli’s run was all the more impressive given that after finishing 49th on The Race to Dubai in his rookie season last year, the 26 year old had not finished better than 35th this campaign.

Gagli and Bourdy led by two from Finn Mikko Ilonen and Scotland’s Gary Orr, with Singh amongst the later starters.

Meanwhile Rory McIlroy made just the start he was hoping for after resuming in joint 53rd place.

Birdies at two of his first three holes lifted the World Number Two, who has missed four of his last five halfway cuts, up into a tie for 21st on four under par.

This is McIlroy's final tournament before The Open Championship in three weeks and he was back on the course where he shot an amazing record 61 as a 16 year old.

Open Champion Darren Clarke boosted his hopes of making a first cut of the season when he also birdied the long tenth - his first of the day - to improve to two under and when he added a two on the short 14th he stood in a share of 34th place on three under. 

The top 65 and ties go through to the final 36 holes.

McIlroy bogeyed the short 14th, but had his third birdie of the day two holes later and turned in a two under 34 – by then six behind.

Clarke's third birdie came on the 15th, but after a back-nine 33 he bogeyed the first to be three under and joint 38th.

Clarke to Receive PGA Honour

Open champion Darren Clarke will receive the PGA Recognition Award at this December's annual PGA Luncheon in London.

The 43-year-old, unable to collect the award at the end of last season, follows in the footsteps of other Claret Jug winners Sir Nick Faldo, Tony Jacklin and the late Seve Ballesteros.

"We had considered Darren for this award long before his Open triumph because he had already made an immense contribution to golf," said PGA chief executive Sandy Jones.

"His outstanding success in becoming Open champion meant his commitments prevented him from collecting the award last December, but we look forward to welcoming him as guest of honour at the lunch."

Bourdy Singh's at Royal Portrush

It was wet, it was windy, but nothing was going to stop fans turning out in huge numbers to see Grégory Bourdy and Jeev Milkha Singh shine at the first Irish Open in Northern Ireland since 1953.

Rory McIlroy, Darren Clarke and Graeme McDowell, the three Major Champions whose success helped to bring the event back across the border, were always going to have the biggest galleries lining the fairways.

But while none of them was able to break 70 Indian Singh and France's Bourdy were certainly not complaining about the number following them as they set the pace - either side of a 95-minute storm delay - with seven under par 65s.

"The atmosphere and the feel to the golf course is fantastic," said the 40 year old Singh. "When you have so many people cheering and watching you I think you feel great."

England's Mark Foster, part of a group on 66 with compatriot Andrew Marshall, Australian Matthew Zions, Swede Oscar Floren, Finn Mikko Ilonen and Frenchman Edouard Dubois, commented: "It was just amazing out there.

"I got a six o'clock car to the course and, I kid you not, there were people queueing to get in - even though the rain was coming sideways.

"I've never seen a buzz in the players' lounge like there is this week. People are raving about the course and the size of the crowds."

It is the first time organisers put the "sold out" signs up for a regular European Tour event, with 27,000 tickets purchased for each day's play.

First Minister Peter Robinson and Deputy Martin McGuinness were also in attendance to witness the scenes.

McDowell was the first of the three local heroes into action, but hitting a pitch into bushes for a double bogey seven on the 581 yard 17th - his eighth - took the wind out of his sails and he had to settle for a one under 71.

Clarke, yet to make his first halfway cut of the year and out for the past month with a groin strain, contented himself with matching that after a hat-trick of bogeys had left him two over after eight.

World Number Two McIlroy, meanwhile, reached four under, but three-putted the 16th and 18th in what he called "a sloppy finish" and signed for a 70.

Before the tournament Clarke had presented Singh with a bottle of 21 year old Bushmills single malt whisky, but he is keeping that until he can share it with his father Milkha - the "Flying Sikh" who lost out on an Olympic 400 metres medal in a photo-finish in 1960 and about whom a film is currently being made.

Singh, whose own dream is to represent India on the sport's return to the Games in 2016, is a real lover of links golf.

Not that anybody who witnessed his first experience of it would have guessed that - as a 16 year old in 1988 he competed in the Amateur Championship at Royal Porthcawl in Wales, but had rounds of 87 and 84 there and at Pyle and Kenfig to miss out on the match play stages.

"I thought 'My God, this is tough'. I wasn't used to wearing raingear." He has got used to that now - and clearly improved.

Irishman Padraig Harrington, playing with McDowell and equally thrilled at seeing the tournament come north, pitched in from around 60 yards for birdie on his penultimate hole and with a 67 is firmly in the hunt.

Defending champion Simon Dyson, the third member of the group, matched that, while Ryder Cup Captain José María Olazábal and Scot Paul Lawrie - playing together for the third time in under two months - both shot 69.

Another former Open Champion, American John Daly, was in the first group out at 7.30am and returned a 71.

Asked if he was a good early riser he replied: "I am now. I get up when I used to get in!"

Much to everyone's relief, the event resumed in bright sunshine after the stoppage and the round was completed.

Bourdy did not finish until 8.40pm and would have been outright leader if he had birdied the long ninth, but he parred it.

“It was a lovely day, one of the best rounds I've played this year for sure,” he said. “It’s one of my best, maybe the best one I've ever played in my career on The European Tour. I played very solid. 

“It’s the first time I’ve played here this week and I love it. I played like this actually with Darren Clarke on Tuesday, so I think that helped me to play well today, because he gave me a lot advice. He was great with me. It was fantastic playing with the Open Champion, and a guy like him who plays every day on the course.”

Photo of the Day - Irish Open Day One

Branding....

Massed umbrellas in use during the first round of the 2012 Irish Open held on the Dunluce Links at Royal Portrush Golf Club on June 28, 2012 in Portrush, Northern Ireland.

Foster Credits Tutu Blessing for 66

Mark Foster started the Irish Open with a 66 at Royal Portrush after receiving a blessing from South African Archbishop Desmond Tutu.

Foster carded seven birdies to a single bogey and lies one shot off the clubhouse lead held by India's Jeev Milkha Singh.

"He (Tutu) was sat behind me on the flight over and I had my photograph taken with him," said the Worksop golfer, chasing only his second European Tour victory in more than 300 starts. "There were some others on the plane who were more excited about Ronan Keating being there, but I told him it was an honour to meet him."

He added: "You don't get a chance to meet someone like that very often and after shaking his hand he gave me God's blessing."

Perhaps just as important were some words from his wife Sophie before he headed for the airport.

"I had a massive negative not qualifying for The Open on Monday (he actually pulled out despite an opening 70 in the 36-hole event) and was really down," he said.

"But she told me I'd played well on Sunday in Germany, it's only Monday, so let's go again Tuesday. I did a good job of forgetting it and I'm really pleased with this.

"The beginning of the year was awful, I've progressively got better, but I've got to keep improving for what I'm after.

"It was just amazing out there. I got a six o'clock car to the course and, I kid you not, there were people queuing to get in - even though the rain was coming sideways.

"I've never seen a buzz in the players' lounge like there is this week. People are raving about the course and the size of the crowds."

Play set to resume at 16:40hrs

Play is set to resume at 16:40 at Royal Portrush with Jeev Milkha Singh the clubhouse leader on 7 under at The Irish Open, after a round of 65, before play was suspended due to bad weather at Royal Portrush.

The Indian carded eight birdies and a single bogey before a storm halted play for 95 minutes, with a 4.40 resumption scheduled.

“I think links golf, you have to hit a lot of low shots and you have to have a lot of imagination,” said the three-time European Tour winner.

“I think a lot of feel, imagination is required, and that's what I love about links golf. 

“The atmosphere and the feel to the golf course, I think is fantastic. I think it just feels great.”

Singh was one ahead of English pair Mark Foster and Andrew Marshall, as well as Australian Matthew Zions.

Watched by a sell-out crowd - a first for The European Tour in a regular event - that included First Minister Peter Robinson and Deputy Martin McGuinness, Foster was first to post a six under par 66.

The 36 year old, a winner of only one title in more than 300 starts, said: "When we came to the course the rain was sideways and yet people were queuing to get in.

"It's amazing here and I've never heard a buzz about the course that there is in the players' lounge this week.

"It was throwing it down when we got up, but that was no surprise and you've just got to be professional about it.

"At least it was not that windy. But that will come - the course will show its teeth no problem."

He was six under through ten holes himself, rolled in a nine footer on the 13th, but bogeyed the 15th after chipping into a bunker and then hitting the flagstick with his recovery.

Singh reached seven under with six to play, bogeyed the short 14th, but closed with a birdie to go back to the top on his own with a 65.

Australian Zions, a winner in St Omer last year but without a top-20 finish this campaign, had four birdies in his last five holes and said: “I got off to a good start, which I seem to be doing a lot lately.

“It was just nice to kind of tie it all together today. I did everything good, I drove it really well. The course requires a lot of accuracy off the tee, and I drove it very, very well today.” 

That came just before play was suspended at 3.05pm because of an approaching storm - with Rory McIlroy two under after eight. 

It was announced that, even though it was still raining hard, play would be restarting at 4.40pm - a loss of 95 minutes.