Power and McKibbin lead Irish challenge in Scotland

Ryder Cup vice-captain Nicolas Colsaerts showed no signs of a hangover from Europe's triumph in Rome as he outshone three of his victorious players to sit just a shot off the lead after day one of the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship.

FULL LEADERBOARD

Mark Power and Tom McKibbin are best-placed of the four Irish players in action, both players carding rounds of 70 to sit half a dozen shotes off the lead.

John Murphy was a further shot back on one-under par, with Padraig Harringto forced to settle for a one-over par round of 73 following a double bogey at the last in Carnoustie.

Home hero Robert MacIntyre was big draws in Scotland after starring in last week's 16.5-11.5 win over the United States, but it was Belgian Colsaerts who carded a 65 at St Andrews to sit at seven under, one behind Spaniard Adri Arnaus, Swede Sebastian Soderberg and American Peter Uihlein.

Soderberg had pulses racing at the thought of a 59 over the Old Course as he birdied eight of his first 10 holes but made no more progress as he was caught by Uihlein and Arnaus.

Uihlein, one of several LIV players teeing it up on an invite in Scotland, lost out in a play-off at this event 10 years ago and he was bogey-free with eight birdies at St Andrews in just his second DP World Tour event in five years.

Arnaus was playing at Carnoustie - the toughest of the three layouts this week - and he was also bogey-free, starting with three birdies and adding an eagle on the 14th in a 64.

Colsaerts was playing the Old Course and he made five opening birdies after starting at the tenth, bogeying the treacherous Road Hole but picking up further shots on the first, third and fifth.

The 65 was his lowest score of a season where he has made just five cuts in 20 starts, and the