Niemann holds clubhouse lead at Irish Open

Shane Lowry leads the Irish challenge at the Amgen Irish Open with Rory McIlroy in close attendance after a first round played in very testing conditions at Doonbeg.

While the tournament has been dominated by the expected visit of United States President Donald Trump, the on-course action got underway amid high gusts and Lowry's round of 67 was enough for a share of second place on three-under par, with McIlroy two shots further back on one-under.

Chilean Joaquin Niemann was out early in a group with Ireland's Seamus Power and Austria’s Sepp Straka, and a run of four birdies from the 14th to the 17th saw him shoot to the top of the pile on five-under par, with a course-record 65.

Power was unable to match his playing partner and his round of 73 leaves him on three-over and in a real fight to stick around for the weekend.