Michael Hoey is the best of the Irish after the first day of the Omega European Masters swapping last week’s Lamborghini for economy class travel and a four under par 67.

It left the Belfast golfer and current Russian Open champion trailing just four shots behind India’s Anirban Lahiri who shot an eight under par 63 to lead by two shots.

Hoey elected to skip last week’s Wales Open and instead support the Challenge’s Tour’s Northern Ireland Open.

Michael Hoey’s ‘motor’ for the week – a

And Hoey gave the event enormous pre-event coverage arriving for in a Lamborghini Gallardo Superleggera LP570-4, a piece of machinery that can reach 62mph in 3.4 seconds and a top speed of 202 miles per hour.

“It’s back to economy class seating on the train from Geneva up to here to Crans and then walking to the course every day,” smiled Hoey.

“But I saw the same top-of-the-line Lamborghini I have access to last week, Euro 180,000 and it had my head turning.

“I was just trying so hard not to crash it last week as there’s no parking sensors and I had to get people to say if I was okay, but then it was unbelievable to drive it.

“Though that was not really me as I’m not the peacock type.

“And while I was disappointed to miss the cut, I was pleased to lend my support as 21,000 spectators is a lot more they get at European Tour events.”

Fellow Ulsterman Darren Clarke is next best posting a two under par 69.