Michael Hoey and Shane Lowry admitted after dealing with the expectations, distractions and demands of last week’s Irish Open it was business as usual on day one of the BMW International Open in Cologne.

Spain’s Rafa Cabrera-Bello and playing partner and England’s Danny Willett enjoy a two shot lead after eight under par 64s and on the Gut Larcenhof course where Willett broke through two years ago to win a maiden Tour title.

Seven players, including Hoey and Spain’s Alvaro Quiros who has been in bed for two days with a heavy fever, share second place on six under par.

“It was a pretty solid round apart from a few tee shots and I probably should have finished on seven under as I messed-up coming in but I am happy to take 66,” said Hoey.

There Emirates Airlines staff warm to the golf on the opening day of the BMW International Open. (Exclusive photo – David Lloyd/www.golffile.ie)

“It was very much like last week’s Irish Open where you had to keep holing some important par putts and I managed to do that in what is one of my best starts around here.”

However unlike the expectations weighing on all Irish players a week ago at Fota Island, it was more like business as usual as Hoey explained.

“After all the demand and all the hype around the Irish last week it’s like back to normal this week and very much like a usual week out on the Tour,” he said.

“Of course, in saying that last week for me was like playing in a Major given the crowds and all the hype so that’s good to put yourself through that.”

Lowry capped his round of 67 with a fourth hole eagle where he landed a 240-yard 5-wood second shot to just two feet in an round also of five birdies and just two bogeys.

“I just played lovely today and a 67 is the worst score I could have shot and it’s good to bounce back well especially after missing the cut last week by a shot,” he said.

“And I mean this in the nicest possible way but this week is like a breath of fresh air as I am here on my own and just getting about doing my own thing.

“But then I love the Irish Open and I was just really, really annoyed with myself missing the cut last week but thankfully I got out there today and managed to shoot five under.”

Mt. Juliet’s Kevin Phelan is just a stroke back with a round of 68 while Damien McGrane signed for a 69 and European Ryder Cup captain eagling the seventh hole in a round of a level par 72.

Reigning Irish Open winner Mikko Ilonen, who singled out a message from Gary Player as the highlight of Fota Island victory notes, is already well-placed and inside the top-20 alongside Phelan in shooting four under par 68.