Darren Fichardt leads Alfred Dunhill as Padraig Harrington leads Irish contingent

South Africa's Darren Fichardt threatened to card the second 59 in DP World Tour history before claiming a narrow lead after day one of the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship, while two-time winner Padraig Harrington heads the Irish challenge in Scotland.

Fichardt fired two eagles and nine birdies in an 11-under-par 61 at Kingsbarns, just a shot outside the course record shared by Branden Grace and Peter Uihlein.

On a day of low scoring in ideal conditions, that gave the 49-year-old a one-shot lead over Australia’s Cameron John, whose 62 also came at Kingsbarns, with Scott Jamieson and Andrew Wilson shooting 63 at the same venue.

New Zealand’s Daniel Hillier returned a 63 on the Old Course at St Andrews.

Harrington outperformed compatriots Shane Lowry, Rory McIlroy, Tom McKibbin and Alex Maguire in an opening round that could have been even better for the Dubliner.

Starting on the back nine at Carnoustie, the 2002 and 2006 winner managed four birdies in five holes from the first and sat at seven under after 14 holes. However, bogeys in the third- and second-last holes of his round saw him finish on five under.

Lowry is a shot further back after seven birdies and three bogeys at Kingsbarns, with McIlroy on three under after a 69 at the same course that featured four birdies and a bogey.

McKibbin got to two under at Carnoustie, while Maguire laboured to a 74 at Kingsbarns and has just eight players behind him on the leaderboard in the 168-man field.

Playing alongside his father Gerry in the pro-am event, Rory McIlroy could only manage a three-under 69 at Carnoustie which left him in a share of 73rd place.

"It was a perfect day to play Carnoustie," McIlroy said. "I probably didn't quite take advantage of the conditions the way that I