Paul McGinley built early momentum to take the lead in the 3 Irish Open at Killarney Golf & Fishing Club, reaching five under par after just seven holes.
The Irishman, whose last win on The European Tour was in 2005, birdied three of his first six holes, before hitting a superb eagle on the par five seventh.
Tournament favourite Rory McIlroy was breathing down his neck, though, after reaching four under par after seven with birdies on the third, fourth, sixth and seventh.
Patrik Sjöland, who has previously won two titles on The European Tour, birdied the first and fourth and hit an eagle of the seventh after shooting par on the second, third, fifth and sixth.
However, after birdying the ninth, he dropped two shots on the par three tenth to leave himself two shots adrift.
Russian Thomas Akin also started well, hitting birdies on two and three before a double bogey on six brought him back to level par.
However, he responded with aplomb to birdie the eighth and ninth to leave himself two under par after nine.
