Joaquin Niemann has set the early clubhouse lead at the Amgen Irish Open as P\u00e1draig Harrington saw a messy finishing stretch leave him with work to do at Doonbeg.<\/p>\n
A tournament dominated beforehand by the expected visit of United States President Donald Trump, the on-course action got underway on Thursday in trying conditions.<\/p>\n
Chilean Niemann was out in a group with Ireland’s Seamus Power and Austria\u2019s Sepp Straka, and a run of four birdies from the 14th to the 17th saw him shoot to the top of the pile on five-under par.<\/p>\n
A birdie at the 14th saw Waterford\u2019s Power return to level par, but three bogeys from there leaves him a precarious position ahead of Friday\u2019s action with Straka finishing two shots better on one-over par.<\/p>\n
Harrington was in the group after that trio and a birdie at the second thrilled the early morning crowd.<\/p>\n
\ud835\uddd9\ud835\ude02\ud835\uddfb \ud835\uddee\ud835\ude01 \ud835\ude01\ud835\uddf5\ud835\uddf2 \ud835\uddf3\ud835\uddfc\ud835\ude02\ud835\uddff\ud835\ude01\ud835\uddf5 \ud835\uddf6\ud835\uddfb \ud835\uddd7\ud835\uddfc\ud835\uddfc\ud835\uddfb\ud835\uddef\ud835\uddf2\ud835\uddf4 \u2014 RT\u00c9 Sport (@RTEsport) September 10, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n It was pars all the way elsewhere until he reached the 14th, which he bogeyed, with further dropped shots at the 15th and 18th \u2013 offset somewhat by a birdie after a brilliant tee shot at the par-three 16th \u2013 saw him finish on one-over par.<\/p>\n Cormac Sharvin is three-over par after his opening round while Mark Power is a shot further back after bogeys on his two closing holes.<\/p>\n Thomas Higgins is also four-over par after a disastrous pair of consecutive double bogeys on the back nine.<\/p>\n The Roscommon golfer, on his professional debut, provided one of the highlights of the day for the County Clare crowd with an eagle on the par-five eight, but double bogeys at the 14th and 15th saw him fall down the leaderboard.<\/p>\n FULL LEADERBOARD<\/a><\/p>\n A number of Irish golfers remain on course currently with Tom McKibbin best placed on three-under par after seven holes.<\/p>\n Defending champion Rory McIlroy and Shane Lowry are both two-under par after five holes.<\/p>\n ‘\ud835\udde7\ud835\uddf5\ud835\uddee\ud835\ude01’\ud835\ude00 \ud835\ude04\ud835\uddf5\ud835\uddee\ud835\ude01 \ud835\ude01\ud835\uddf5\ud835\uddf2\ud835\ude00\ud835\uddf2 \ud835\uddf4\ud835\ude02\ud835\ude06\ud835\ude00 \ud835\uddee\ud835\uddff\ud835\uddf2 \ud835\uddf4\ud835\uddf2\ud835\ude01\ud835\ude01\ud835\uddf6\ud835\uddfb\ud835\uddf4 \ud835\ude01\ud835\uddf5\ud835\uddf2 \ud835\uddef\ud835\uddf6\ud835\uddf4 \ud835\uddf1\ud835\uddfc\ud835\uddf9\ud835\uddf9\ud835\uddee\ud835\uddff\ud835\ude00 \ud835\uddf3\ud835\uddfc\ud835\uddff’ \u2014 RT\u00c9 Sport (@RTEsport) September 10, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n
McIlroy gets up and down from the greenside bunker for a birdie before Lowry, Reed and Rahm have a cut at the par-five fourth hole… #RTEgolf<\/a> #AmgenIrishOpen<\/a>
\ud83d\udcfa RT\u00c92
\ud83d\udda5\ufe0f https:\/\/t.co\/XnOP6grnB7<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/1kyVlBHSsX<\/a><\/p>\n
The wind is blowing in Doonbeg and the action has slowed to a crawl. Not that our panel will be getting the violins out for the #AmgenIrishOpen<\/a> field #RTEgolf<\/a>
\ud83d\udcfa RT\u00c92 & RT\u00c9player pic.twitter.com\/7NdG3OWxqj<\/a><\/p>\n