Defending champion Sergio Garcia started the Murphy's Irish Open today exactly the way he finished it last year with a sparkling 7-under-par 64.
After admitting that he would prefer to be back at Druids Glen the 20-year-old Spanish star capitalised on a heavenly day at Ballybunion to join Swede Patrik Sjoland at the top of the leaderboard. The County Kerry links, a brute when the weather turns nasty, had its teeth taken out by the calm conditions and gave up birdies and eagles galore. Garcia and Sjoland established a one-stroke lead over 47-year-old Irishman Des Smyth and 3 others.
Des Smyth admits his main problem as he tries to become the first Irish winner since John Leary in 1982 is his age. In his 27th season on the European Tour, he said: "I feel like a horse that runs a good eight furlongs, but the race is a mile and a half. I'm looking forward to moving into the seniors circuit." Order of Merit leader Darren Clarke had a poor day with a one over 72. Two under with five to play, the Ulsterman had a double bogey and two bogeys over the closing stretch.
