![](\"https:\/\/static.independent.co.uk\/static-assets\/images\/newsletter\/sport\/sport-135x135.png\")
<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
Former champion Rory McIlroy admitted two late birdies helped \u201cgloss over\u201d an average first round of the Horizon Irish Open.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think the two birdies in the last two holes sort of glossed over what was a pretty average day,\u201d McIlroy said. \u201cDidn\u2019t really feel great with anything.<\/p>\n
![](\"https:\/\/static.independent.co.uk\/2022\/11\/30\/15\/GettyImages-1388382959%20copy.jpg\")
\n![](\"https:\/\/static.independent.co.uk\/2022\/12\/01\/03\/GettyImages-1245251240.jpg\")
<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s hard to say I\u2019m rusty when I\u2019ve only had a week off but I just haven\u2019t had a chance to practice much and I just hit a few loose shots out there.<\/p>\n
\u201cManaged my game well and scraped it around in three under which is nice and sort of gets me in the tournament.\u201d<\/p>\n
McIlroy almost pulled out of the Tour Championship with a back injury and is not yet back to full fitness, but insisted that was not an issue on the course.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s more that I have not been able to hit a ton of balls,\u201d the 34-year-old added.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m hitting good shots but it\u2019s all about knowing your patterns and where you\u2019re missing it and where to aim and where not to aim and just being a little unsure over a couple of shots.\u201d<\/p>\n
Ryder Cup vice-captain Bjorn admitted he was as surprised as anyone to find himself at the top of the leaderboard after a lengthy injury lay-off.<\/p>\n
The 52-year-old has not played competitively since June due to collarbone and lower back problems, but carded seven birdies and a solitary bogey on the ninth, his final hole.<\/p>\n
\u201cI said to my caddie this morning when we walked to the first tee, let\u2019s try to see if we can break 90,\u201d Bjorn said. \u201cIt was that kind of day.<\/p>\n
\u201cI came here with no expectations and it just shows how silly this game can be. You can work hard for weeks and go out and shoot bad scores.<\/p>\n
![](\"https:\/\/static.independent.co.uk\/2023\/09\/07\/14\/f228a1e200198dbe70f5e89b16725875Y29udGVudHNlYXJjaGFwaSwxNjk0MTc2MzYx-2.72555912.jpg\")
\n![](\"https:\/\/static.independent.co.uk\/2023\/09\/07\/13\/cf7c461f08a5450f5ca453d360a092f7Y29udGVudHNlYXJjaGFwaSwxNjk0MTc1MDM0-2.70693833.jpg\")
\n![](\"https:\/\/static.independent.co.uk\/2023\/09\/07\/12\/31ce2f49e7c343e24999a342d64bf0dcY29udGVudHNlYXJjaGFwaSwxNjk0MTczNjMx-2.73479163.jpg\")
<\/p>\n
\u201cExpectations sometimes get in the way of professional golf, as I\u2019ve shown, and then you just go out and enjoy yourself, you\u2019re just happy to be on the golf course after so long.\u201d<\/p>\n
Defending champion Adrian Meronk, who admitted on Wednesday he was shocked and angry to be overlooked for a Ryder Cup wild card, matched the 69 of playing partner McIlroy, with former Open champion Shane Lowry going one better with a 68.<\/p>\n