Thomas Linard continued his recent resurgence in form to make a blistering start and take the early lead on day one of the Dubai Duty Free Irish Open Hosted by the Rory Foundation.
The Frenchman made a good start to his rookie European Tour campaign before Christmas when he finished in a tie for fifth at the Alfred Dunhill Championship but he missed four of his next five cuts.
He then made it into the weekend at the Real Club Valderrama Open de España, Hosted by the Sergio Garcia Foundation and held a share of the first round lead at the Trophée Hassan II last time out, a feat he was aiming to emulate at the K Club.
He was certainly making a good fist of it on a rainy morning in County Kildare as he birdied the first, second and fourth to get to three under and open up a one-shot lead.
Welshman Bradley Dredge, England's Tyrrell Hatton and Spaniard Eduardo de la Riva were then all a further shot back.
Dredge had back-to-back birdies on the seventh and eighth in his opening 12 holes while Hatton made gains on the 13th and 18th after starting on the back nine.
De la Riva was another fast starter with birdies on the first and third and there was then a group of 13 players at one under.
Tournament host Rory McIlroy and defending champion Søren Kjeldsen were among the afternoon starters.
