foxsports
STRAFFAN, Ireland (AP) Masters champion Danny Willett struck an opening round of 7-under 65 to take a two-shot lead lead over home favorite Rory McIlroy in the Irish Open on Thursday.
Willett hit eight birdies and narrowly dropped a lone shot on the 17th.
England's Callum Shinkwin and South Africa's Jaco Van Zyl shared third place, one stroke behind McIlroy.
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McIlroy, the tournament host and world's third-ranked golfer, says Thursday's performance provided relief after his failure to make the Irish Open cut the past three years.
Willett putted precisely despite blustery conditions on the 7,350-yard (6,719-meter) course at the K Club, an American-style parkland venue designed by Arnold Palmer.
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