Amgen Irish Open - Day one digest

Everything you need to know from day one at Royal County Down.

Todd Clements made a magnificent eagle to soar to the top of the leaderboard, Rory McIlroy impressed on home soil and Robert MacIntyre showed off his links skills on day one of the Amgen Irish Open.

Here is everything you need to know from Thursday at Royal County Down.

Clements the man to catch

Clements carded a five-under-par 66 to hold a one-shot lead after the opening round. The 28-year-old from England carded five birdies, two bogeys and eagled the 18th – his ninth – to top the leaderboard ahead of Spain's Alejandro Del Rey and Finland's Sami Välimäki. Starting on the back nine, Clements – who won his first DP World Tour title at the 2023 D+D Real Czech Masters – birdied the tenth from 15 feet and tapped in for another gain on the par-five 12th. A wonderful second at the long 18th then created a 17-foot eagle opportunity which was duly taken as Clements raced to the turn in 32, before mixing three birdies and two bogeys on the way in. "I said that to my caddie walking off, 'That's one of the best rounds I've played in my life so far'. It's a hard course and yeah, delighted how it panned out."

McIlroy makes his mark

World Number Three and home favourite McIlroy was part of a five-way tie for fourth on three under after an opening 68. The four-time Major winner was in danger of letting a promising round slip away when he bogeyed the 14th and 15th to fall back to level par, but he birdied the last three holes. “Any time you can shoot three under around this place you have to be happy,” said McIlroy. “The conditions were pretty tough early on and then the wind seemed to settle a little bit those last few holes and it was nice to take advantage of that and play them the way I did. It’s nice to get off to a good start (in Northern Ireland) for a change. I enjoyed being out there, the crowds were great and it was great being out there with Tom (McKibbin) as well.”

Kjeldsen rolls back the years

Søren Kjeldsen might have one eye on seniors golf given he turns 50 next year but showed he can still compete at this level with a two-under 69. The Dane won the last of his four DP World Tour titles last time this event was held at the same venue in 2015. “That was really good,” said Kjeldsen after making three birdies against a single bogey to sit two under. “I hit the ball incredibly well. I was in good control with my long game. “Didn't have to use my short game a whole lot, but when I did, it was okay, and felt incredibly uncomfortable on the greens but managed to putt sort of half-decent. No wonder it's been voted one of the best courses in the world, if not the best. Every shot is so exciting.”

MacIntyre shows off his links skills

The left-hander from Scotland certainly knew how to handle the tough conditions.