Niemann leads, McIlroy 4 back at windy Irish Open

Round 1 of the Irish Open saw Joaquín Niemann take a two-shot lead with a 5-under 65, but the wind-affected conditions and six-hour rounds make the leaderboard highly unstable. Rory McIlroy, the defending champion, sits four back after a bunker double bogey on 13, finishing with a 69. Brooks Koepka, rusty after a month off, opened with a triple bogey and shot 75. The event features a mixed field of LIV and DP World Tour players, with three golfers still on course at 3-under due to a darkness suspension.