Fast start for Irish as Rory McIlroy, Padraig Harrington and Leona Maguire all at top of leaderboard

It was a good opening day for the Irish with Rory McIlroy, Leona Maguire, and Padraig Harrington all surging to the top of the leaderboard on Day One of their respective tournaments.

The trio are all in action stateside with world number two McIlroy taking part in the PGA Tour signature event the Wells Fargo Championship.

The Northern Irishman is hoping to end his major hoodoo next week at Valhalla, the same course he won his last major. And McIlroy will be happy with his start, sitting in second place behind Xander Schauffele.

The American is three shots clear of McIlroy, Alex Noren, and Collin Morikawa after carding an impressive seven-under-par 64.

Holywood man McIlroy surged to the top of the leaderboard early on after three consecutive birdies and eagled the par-five seventh but did card four bogeys on his last 10 holes.

Seamus Power sits in a tie for 43rd after carding a one-over-par 72 while Shane Lowry sits just one shot off bottom after a four-over-par round.

Leona Maguire is well positioned after shooting an opening round six-under-par 66 in the Founders Cup. The Cavan woman is in a tie for third and three shots behind leader Rose Zhang. Maguire carded seven birdies and just one bogey in her opening round.

Padraig Harrington is hoping to add another major to his record as he competes at the Regions Tradition this weekend. The Dubliner is currently tied at the top alongside Chris DiMarco but play was suspended due to lightning in the area.

Starting on the back nine, Harrington carded four straight birdies on holes 13-16 to surge up the leaderboard and was seven-under-par before play was suspended on his 14th hole.

Darren Clarke currently sits four shots behind Harrington on three-under-par while other top names in early contention are Ernie Els, Y.E. Yang and Vijah Singh.

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