Two-time Major Champion Sandy Lyle closed with a superb eagle for an opening round 66 to set the pace in the Handa Irish Senior Open presented by Fáilte Ireland as he chases his maiden European Senior Tour title.
A sublime three iron approach shot from 214 yards into the wind on the picturesque finishing hole at Carton House set up the eagle chance from 12 feet which the former Open and Masters Champion holed to move one stroke clear of Frenchman Marc Farry at the top of the leader board.
Lyle had earlier posted five birdies, dropping just one shot when he found the fairway bunker on the fifth hole, and his stunning eagle meant he equalled the course record of six under par shared by Nick O’Hern Titch Moore, Oliver Wilson and Thomas Björn.
“I was very happy with the round. The course is playing really good. It is a little easier than when I played on The European Tour here a few years ago. The rough is cut back considerably and we didn’t have too much wind today so it was up for grabs.
“The greens are rolling nice so hopefully we can see some low scoring here this week.”
Lyle’s best performance in three seasons on the European Senior Tour so far is tied sixth in The Aberdeen Brunei Senior Masters presented by The Stapleford Forum last season but a superb performance at last year’s Masters Tournament, where he finished tied 20th, and an opening round 69 at Augusta National this year showed he remains capable of competing at the highest level.
His 66 over the Montgomerie Course at Carton House, in Co. Kildare was his lowest round on the Senior Tour, and sets up the 18-time European Tour winner for a weekend assault on the title, which was won last year by Ian Woosnam.
“I’ve been a little starved of winning a tournament recently so I’m keen to win,” said the five-time Ryder Cup player. “I felt if I can do what I did today in terms of driving the ball and keeping it under control I should be thereabouts at the end of the week.”
Farry opened with six birdies and a bogey in his round of 67, which was also his lowest Senior Tour round.
The former European Tour winner believes the Montgomerie Course, designed by the European Ryder Cup Captain, suits big hitters such as Lyle and himself.
“I really hit the ball well today and I missed a short putter on the last hole but I accept 67 as a good start,” he said. “It’s my best round so far on the Senior Tour. This course suits me as it is longer and helps the long ball strikers we have on this tour.”
“The last three tournaments I have played better and I’m starting to get more used to the Senior Tour.”
Englishman Glenn Ralph, winner of last year’s Cleveland Golf/Srixon Scottish Senior Open, and South African Christopher Williams are a further shot back on four under par with another Englishman, Andrew Murray, in fifth place after a 69.
Leading the home challenge are Irishmen Jimmy Heggarty, Denis O’Sullivan and Des Smyth, who all posted level par rounds of 72 for a 14 way share 20th place, alongside former World Number One Woosnam who led Europe to Ryder Cup glory at the nearby K Club in 2006.
Sam Torrance, the 2002 Ryder Cup Captain, eagled the last hole but that was only good enough for a two over par 74, the same as his former Ryder Cup teammate Eamonn Darcy of Ireland.
