Rory McIlroy: Late birdies glossed over a pretty average day at Irish Open

Former champion Rory McIlroy admitted two late birdies helped “gloss over” an average first round of the Horizon Irish Open.

McIlroy, who won the title the last time it was staged at The K Club in 2016, carded an opening 69 in glorious conditions to lie three shots off the early clubhouse lead shared by Jordan Smith, Thomas Bjorn and Ross Fisher.

The world number two bogeyed his first hole of the day and drove into the water on the seventh to lie just one under par with two holes remaining, but holed from 18 feet for birdie on the eighth and four feet on the ninth.

Some mornings are better than others