A bogey-free round of 66 has left the Clara man in an excellent position.
Shane Lowry is in second place, one shot off the lead - entering round two of the Open Championship at Troon.
The Offaly man carded a bogey free round of 5 under par yesterday and lies a shot behind England's Daniel Brown.
Lowry led the field in putting, making a number of excellent strokes:
Out on his own.
— The Open (@TheOpen) July 18, 2024
Shane Lowry birdies the 11th. pic.twitter.com/W5GgtYILmQ
2019 winner Lowry tees off his second round just before 10am.
Padraig Harrington is 1 over par, Tom McKibbin is 2 over, Darren Clarke is 6 over and Rory McIlroy is already in a battle to make the weekend.
He's 7 over par, alongside Galway amateur Liam Nolan.
Lowry is hoping to maintain his current momentum:
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