Episode 1 Irish Open - Highlights

It's the first time the Irish Open has been staged in Northern Ireland

for almost 60 years, but it's been worth the wait. The event is a

sell-out. Over the next four days, more than 100,000 people will flock

to the stunning north coast to see a host of golfing stars. Like Rory

McIlroy, who won the US Open in record-breaking style last year.

Graeme McDowall, born and bred in Port Rush has also won America's

national championship. Then there's the Open Champion,

Darren Clarke, one of European golf's most successful ever players.

He is also the ambassador for this tournament.

They are joined in the impressive field by the three-time major

winner, Padraig Harrington, here to compete on his favourite course.

There is a host of other top Irish talent, including from Belfast,

Michael Hoey. Among the leading Americans in this all-star cast is

Keegan Bradely, the current US PGA champion.

Welcome to Royal Portrush for day one of the Irish Open. Well the

weather on the north coast has been changeable. From glorious sunshine

to torrential rain. Despite the overcast conditions today, and the

threat of more rain forecast for later on, that will not dampen the

enthusiasm of the thousand and spectators who is turned up to see

some of the best golfers in the It's fantastic, not just to come in

and see it, but to see as many people out on the golf course as

well. Obviously it's a golf club with a huge amount of history with

the Open Championship being here in 1951, but in the modern era, this

is one of the proudest moments for all of Port Rush.

We have great memories here. For a lot of the guys that have played

amateur golf in Ireland here. It is one of the best places to come and

play golf, not just in this country, but in the world.

I couldn't imagine being treated better than the way I am right now,

the people have been unbelievable. I haven't played the course in 16

years, I have no idea what it is going to play like.

The Irish Open, it has a lot of Irish back ground, I do, and I also

have a lot of Irish friends. So it makes it very cool to be here m

This is such a great atmosphere. You are very proud to be a part of

it, yes. It is fantastic. You own have to

look at it. The course is in magnificent condition. The Irish

crowds, well, it doesn't get much better, does it? The Englishman

Simon Dyson is the defending champion, but the stars of this

year's Irish Open are, of course, home-grown. The return of the

tournament is largely down to the extraordinary success of the

Northern Ireland's three major champions, Rory McIlroy, Graeme

McDowall and Darren Clarke. G Mac is celebrating ten years as a

professional this week. He should know every inch of Royal Portrush

as this is where he learned to play I made the debut in June, 2002.

Up in the north of England at the Great North Open. I remember

snapping the first T shot, so nervous I could barely pull the

trigger, but it's ten years on, it's been a roller-coaster.

I wouldn't change a thing. I really wouldn't. I've been very lucky. The

game's been very good to me. I've remained healthy and fit. I'm still

enjoying the game. Ten years, where has it gone? It feels like it has

gone in the blink of an eye. I was always the guy who was into

the short-term goals, trying to get to the next level, to win

tournaments, competing in order of merits -- Order of Merits, and

getting on the Ryder Cup. I have climbed the ladder slowly. When I

look back on ten years, there really have been peaks and troughs,

but the curve has remained gradually, on the up.

Mental toughness, when I look around my family, I see my mum and

I feel like if I get my mental toughness from anyone, it is from

her. He is a tough cookie. She's an amazing woman.

I feel like I get my toughness from her.

It's great to be home, though. I really haven't spent much time in

Northern Ireland this year. I miss my family. I miss coming home and

seeing everyone. This is a great opportunity this week to have some

family around at the house over the weekend and to have them watch me

play golf this weekend. Instead of watching on the box, on the TV,

they can actually see me in person. I would have been proud of the

place if I had had nothing to do with it. I would have just been

proud to have the European Tour come to Portrush, but I am a part

of this history here. Myself, Rory McIlroy, Padraig

Harrington and Darren Clarke, the strength of Irish golf in general.

We feel a certain amount of pride that this great tournament has come

to Portrush. Well, Graeme McDowall was one of

the first golfers out this morning, but he was not the Irishman making

the early running. That honour fell to Padraig

Harrington. This was a birdie at the par 5 second. He quickly moved

the par 5 second. He quickly moved to 4 under par.

Simon Dyson had an eagle at the same hole. He picked up quickly

where he left off last year and moved to 3 under par.

The European Ryder Cup captain, Jose Maria Olazabal is there is 3

under, holding this great putt at the thinker. Michael Hoey won the

North of Ireland Amateur Championship around this course.

This was his third birdie of the day, but the leader is Englishman,

Mark Foster. This was his sixth birdie, he heads the Irish Open

leaderboard. So there is confirmation. Harrington a couple

of shots off the lead. It is another McIlroy, not Rory, but

Dermot, an amateur from Northern Ireland, also making an early

impression. It is time to join the commentary team. We take it up on

the fourth tee with Padraig Harrington.

It is a fantastic golf course. There is no question about it. The

guys have the weather with them. The wind is there a little, but no

rain. Padraig Harrington with a strong swing. It is a fair wi you

have to hit like most of them here. Well, luckily, there are 27,000

people on the course. A few of them will be around here. They have a

chance of finding that. I do enjoy watching this man play

as well. That will do.

The course is a little softer than it would be, I think that it helps

the players. Beauty.

butter wouldn't do. So, Mark Foster a chance to get it

set. Well, he has his eye in today! I think we have a bit of rain

forecast. It is due to start raining heavily later on.

Padraig Harrington, four birdies. He is looking for the gap.

Very commercial decision. Now two lovely shots into this

green, this one for a birdie 3. He will remain at 4 under par.

He has really matured as a golfer in the last couple of seasons. The

brewing in China. Followed up with the -- the break through in China.

Then following it up in Spain. satisfactory. Mark Foster. Calamity

today playing at 193 yards and a big drop down the right. This is

one of the many scary holes. That rain is not far away. It is looking

difficult. He is not far from the green. Come on. He would have hoped

for better. I do not believe it! Going for a swim! This of course is

the feature group, the one most people have come to see. He has got

birdie at the 14th. Come, come, come! So many players using that

thicker grip. They have found a way to make it lighter. These are very

allowing for that much. First dropped shot of the day. He will

meet to pick up a few shots before the finish. Bogey for Harrington.

He slips back to 3-under par. First dropped shot of the day. Mark

Foster leading. A couple of shots Out towards the ocean. Eight could

This is a relatively new team that the players will be playing off in

this tournament. It is not the longest part of the golf course but

probably the most picturesque. The drive will be played out to the

sand hills. The longer players will be able to carry on the right hand

side. Most of the players will be forced a bit to the left. That

makes the second shot a bit longer into the green. The green is

perched above a two tear green. Probably one of the most

picturesque holes on the entire Yes, high in the skies. Great shot.

He has had a few chances slip by in the last few holes. It is not

unusual on the sort of courses. You need a bit of extra pace on the

ball to keep them on the line. Tickling its down the slope, but

park? First dropped shot of the day. He will be delighted to get it up

and down in two. The left to the right, I feel that gets the arms a

bit unbalanced. A very good par four. He has left himself with a

Nicolas Colsaerts making progress. A bright each -- star from the

Indian player as well. -- start. Michael Hoy at the 5th. Getting its

tea macro 3-under. Much-fancied this week. Simon Dyson just short

of the 7th in two. How about that? The defending champion. Moving

along nicely to 4-under. Padraig Harrington for a birdie at seven.

Very nice. Back to 4-under. When the Dow. -- Graeme McDowell. A

Apology for the loss of subtitles for 67 seconds

disappointing bogey. He drops back way across the par-five 17th green.

This is for eagle. Very nicely Local hope as well. A little ugly.

He did play 11 rounds in the Amateur Championship up at Troon

It is not just about the Major winners. Alan Dunbar has been

creating quite a stir after winning the British Amateur Championship

last weekend. We were invited along to the homecoming. The 2012 British

amateur champion! APPLAUSE... a dream coming from this Golf Club.

It shows that when you are going up, it can be done. He has shown that

you can do it and he has made it so why can't I do it? I have worked

hard all winter with my coach. It is great to see the awards coming

through now and I am looking forward to this week, obviously. I

cannot wait to get down there I think I have done everything I

can in amateur golf. We will have a sit down in the next few days and

look at a few things and I will see where I want to go and what the

next step is. It feels good and I will build on this and keep working

hard and keep trying to move green. It is playing on all of them

a bit, B wind. You just cannot be the green the crowd were ducking. I

did not see that one. They were ducking on both sides. It was an

unhelpful shout of fore. Ace light downslope. He has got to factor

of late but has got a chance to get back to 3-under. Beautifully done.

Well played, Dermot Michael Wright. One of the amateur players here. He

Apology for the loss of subtitles for 67 seconds

has got a big prospect in Irish Foster at the top of the

in terms of his opening round. Three players tied at the top.

Padraig Harrington at 5-under. We trouble off the tee. This is just

for one dropped shot. That was a do not want to absolutely rush bike.

Apology for the loss of subtitles for 67 seconds

break at all. It was clearly going from right to left. Just a part. A

warm reception bow for the man from 18th.

Looking for one more birdie. It would be quite a clubhouse score

to post to get. This he held the course of 65 for many years during

his amateur career. It has veered to the left.

He was going aggressively at it. Foster, let's see if he can fin

wish the parr at last. He can. It's a round of 66 for the

Englishman. The English players have done

fairly well at the Irish Open in the last few years. Three of the

last four winners have been fro England.

disappointing. It's got to be a 67 for Padraig Harrington.

A missed opportunity there. Very much in contention. Jeev

Milkha Singh is at 7 under parr: Well, a bit of a topsy-turvy round.

Not the start you were hoping for Graeme? Not really. The conditions

were more benign than perhaps the Europeans are expecting.

1 under par was the most I could have shot. I played the first shots

2 under par. I got a jumper out of the wet fairways, over the back and

make a double Boeingie. That is a killer blow when most guys are

going to birdie that hole, but a nice birdie on 2, hit a close on 3

and a frustrating 7. It was a case of what could have been today, but

there is no panic button. I did play OK. In a funny way I have

played a lot better than my score. I was sure I was going to get it to

65. It was not toen. But I still love the golf course.

It's a great test. It gives you something. There is lots of birdies

to be made out there, but it can take you away.

A grade cowed out there for you? Unbelievable. On a wet Thursday

morning that was only fit for staying in bed like it was a Sunday

afternoon. I thought it was lovely. The

conditions were better than I thought they were going to be. I

thought it might be like Birkdale last year on the Saturday for the

Open, but it was nice. When it was raining the wind was

not too strong, but it is such a beautiful place. You can do nothing

but look around and enjoy yourself, really.

Well, one man enjoying the view is Jeev Milkha Singh coming down the

18th. A lovely approach shot.

He is setting up his eighth birdie of the day. One Boeingie as well. A

round of 6 a. An -- 65. An excellent start.

Unfortunately we then had weather issues. There was a storm front

that moved in. There was electrical activity. We lost two hours, then

the weather changed. A lovely shot there at the ninth.

Darren Darren Darren, also appeared to come out a new man after the

weather break -- Darren Clarke. A beautiful birdie at the 12th from

long range. Rory McIlroy, meanwhile, his third

to the par 5 tenths. A lovely touch. Setting up his third birdie of the

day, getting him to three under par. Four shots behind Jeev Milkha Singh

and we rejoin the action with Keegan Bradely at the tee.

Well, Bradley has the nine. Trying to work it around the corner

from right to left. The wind must be helping up the

hill. It is steeply uphill that tee shot.

It is. I think that they are all going to

hit irons here. Anything more, you would have to go across the dunes

He tried to play with a little more draw. That was not the result he

Colin Montgomerie down the hill into the 11th.

It is a big drop. We haven't seen anything better

than that! Well done, Monty. He has got height on it.

Well, from the look of the sky, he down it, but maybe because the

course is a little soft. There, a first look at the Causeway

with Darren Clarke. Down across the valley.

A great shot. Dunluce.

That was very well played. Up for a two with Calamity.

We have seen a coup of the putts. Still a terrific effort.

It would be nice to see him play well again. He has had a shocker

since winning the Open Championship. He has been troubled by groin

injury, that caused him to miss the US Open recently.

It is like he is looking a long way right.

It is quick coming off the bank at the back there.

No-one catching the leaders yet. It's been impressive stuff on this

McIlroy. A wonderful young swing. That is...

Truly outstanding. He lock looks on form, Dennis,

doesn't he? He certainly does. So here on the 14 tee. Calamity

Corner. This one speaks for itself. 210 yards. Up to the hill too. All

of this crevasse here. It is a very, very difficult hole. One of the

most famous par 3s in the world. The tee is exposed as well. The

players are buffered by the wind. It is an intimidating hole, but

there is a little bit of respite to the left of the green. A hollow

there. And during the Open Championship in

1951, Bobby hit a shot in there every single time and made his parr

from there. It is a very, very difficult hole, but this is the

start of the home stretch here at Royal Portrush.

Rory McIlroy moves to 4 under. He is within three of Jeev Milkha

Singh. A splendid looking card. No drop-

shots. Just a tiny shot down the hill.

What a cracker. 22 paces in and five from the drive.

That was an excellent effort. Can he get it over the hill and on

the downslope between the bunkers? Well, it's over the hill.

No-one seemed to move! We have lost Julian. Right, come on, now.

He moves to 2 under, Mr Molinari. McGinley, up and over a ridge. Not

an easy p, tt, this one. that to the right.

I think he should be OK there. Oh, no, it has worked out for him.

This has gone right down to the bottom. This could hurt.

We hate o to see this. What contact he has made. That is

unbelievable! And to stop it like that, alright, into the green but

that is ridiculous. Fantastic. He can't believe it himself. Look at

that. Well, well, well, we have seen a

couple of the most astonishing shots now on the SAT hole from

unbelievable situations. Well played to both of them.

Apology for the loss of subtitles for 67 seconds

shoulder and down into a bowl. that there is a lovely sense of

sure. He did glance to his right all the time. Some focusing

Apology for the loss of subtitles for 67 seconds

He is among those to have taken part in the professional and

amateur events. He was joined by amateur events. He was joined by

stars of stage, screen and other I have not just been enjoying the

competitive golf but the professional and amateur tournament.

Celebrities from sport and entertainment all in the aid of

MUSIC... I had some advice for him. I think he is going to try and

avoid the rest of us. He managed a I did not have a good tee shot dead

but that was just one of those It is very different here and it is

great to be a part of this for this weekend. It is amazing. I would

It is great to see it, the Irish success in the last few years. We

are delighted with them all. Do you still get nervous for these sorts

of events? Yes, especially on the first tee. I am worried that I

Yes, these are pretty good trousers. How often do you get to wear these

this man, James Marathon -- James Morrison. He gets the keys to a BMW

series six Coupe. An excellent performance and a round of 68.

Padraig Harrington and Simon Dyson at 5-under. We joined Rory McIlroy

Apology for the loss of subtitles for 67 seconds

pretty decent effort from Keegan Bradley. You would expect it to run

birdie to finish his round. He needs to get to 2-under. Just a

little bit light and left. He will be OK for a par four. He has played

well since he came back after that interruption in play. A very good

Apology for the loss of subtitles for 67 seconds

The ever says steady Italian. McIlroy, Bertie four. -- birdie

four. A little bit light for age macro 5 par for Rory McIlroy. But

he remains at 3-under. -- pas five. there spin. A round of 67 for keep

warm. Simon Dyson also played that he played earlier was from the

Apology for the loss of subtitles for 67 seconds

one. Get back to level par. He was Rory McIlroy. For a round in the

60s. And he didn't even touch it. That is a great pity. A round of 70.

He got to 4-under at one stage and was looking without blemish. But he

picked up some bogeys in the last three holes. Just inside the top 50.

Disappointing. Five, five, five place to be, Royal Port Rush on the

first day of the Irish Open. Coming to a conclusion. An excellent round

of golf from the leader of. Eight birdies, one bogey. Andrew Marshall,

just one shot back. Simon Dyson is among their is 5-under par. -- the

among their is 5-under par. -- the players. Darren Clarke finishes

with 1-under par. A tale of two nines. I got off to a pretty good

start. But I made a really stupid mistake with those bogeys. We had a

bit of a delay probably at the right time and I went back out and

was 3-under from there. I had a few chances but to get back under-par

was pretty good. All in all I cannot complain. A bit

disappointing on the 17th. I had a really good chance for the birdie.

I had a couple of spaces in front of me and I could not get

comfortable. I had a couple of chances and a couple of good shots

at 14 and 15. But I cannot complain. One undergoing back out there.

first real test today. People have said it feels like the Open.

does and it has been a wonderful atmosphere. I think it is a

testament to the fact that we have the Irish Open among the big

tournaments of the year. It is wonderful to see the Irish Open at

Royal Portrush. Brilliant. I saw you play with your son in the

professional and amateur tournament yesterday and he enjoyed it. Yes,

definitely. The game has been good to me for a very long time and to

be involved in that was very -- That was a very disappointing

finish to what was looking like a very nice round. I felt like I

played some nice golf for 15 holes and then some bogeys. I had a loose

shot at 16 and three dropped shots. The 17 was slightly disappointing.

It was not a great way to finish. But I will get out there tomorrow

and get a few shots back quickly. Is there a score to be made about

the conditions? Yes, Forshaw. If you can get a round of 65, in these

conditions, that is great. What about the fantastic support today

on the first sell-out day? It is phenomenal. It is a great

atmosphere. It is a pleasure to play in front of so many people. It

would have been nicer if I had shot a better score. But I hope I can do

that tomorrow. That is the end of a fabulous opening day at the Irish

Open. From the course point of view it has been running very well,

apart from the weather conditions. We had the wet weather to begin

with but that was good scoring for the people early on. Then we had a

bit of rain and the other delays this afternoon. But it ended up

absolutely fantastic. The course has held up extremely well under

the conditions with all the rain we have had and we are very fortunate

that it just goes straight through the sand. Padraig Harrington is

right in there. This is a course that he loves. He does and he is

playing really well. He has got form back in the last couple of

weeks and he is going to be a contender on Sunday. Fantastic to

see Rory McIlroy doing well and Darren Clarke coming back after the

rain delay as well. Graeme McDowell out early this morning. He is a bit

disappointed and it could have been better. He knows this caused very

well. But he will be encouraged by how he played today and he will get