Irish eyes were smiling on Scot Grant Forrest who produced a lowest starting round in some seven months on day one of the Dubai Duty Free Irish Open.
Forrest, 28, grabbed seven birdies in a six-under par 66 on the Mount Juliet course on the outskirts of Kilkenny.
The Craigielaw golfer’s effort was just two shots shy of the leading first day round from Aussie Lucas Herbert who birdied his closing three holes in a sizzling eight-under par 64.
American Johannes Veerman, and with a very late round of 65 is second
Irish eyes smiling on Grant Forrest after a 66 on day one of the Irish Open
Forrest and a second Aussie in Jason Schrivner shooting also a 66, are third third and one shot clear of a chasing pack including 14 players at five-under.
Among those at five-under is in-form Martin Kaymer, England’d Tommy Fledtwood and Scot Richie Ramsay.
Forrest is teeing-up on the Jack Nicklaus designed lay-out for a first time in his career and with the parkland layout having hosted the Irish Open from 1993 to 1995.
Scotland’s Sam Torrance won the 1995 Irish Open, in a field featuring then World No. 1 Greg Norman, and delighted the huge Irish crowd in downing a full pint of Murphy’s Irish Stout at the presentation ceremony in one ‘go’ and then in raising the empty glass he received double the roar than moments earlier in holding aloft the gleaming Waterford Crystal trophy.
Forrest still has some way to go before he gets his hands on a first European Tour trophy but the Scot has given himself a great springboard into round two of the Rolex Series event.
And his round of 66 was a best opener since a similar 66 last December on day one of the inaugural Golf in Dubai Championship.
He said: “I walked away with some pretty stress-fee pars and that was the difference of keeping the momentum going today, and then nice to hole a few putts. It was pretty nice
“It’s the first time I’ve been here. So no, I haven’t actually played a whole lot of golf in Ireland in general. This is in fantastic condition. It’s a lovely course”.
And while the Scot chases a maiden Tour title, it’s not lost on him there is also on offer a place into next fortnight’s Open.
He said: “All I can do is just try and take each day as it comes. Obviously, they are a couple of pretty big weeks for us. Just happy with the way my game’s starting to take shape.
“It would be nice to playing in any major but I cannot be thinking of that”,
