English golfer Jordan Smith shot a five-under par 65 to take joint-top spot alongside South African Dean Burmester at the Dubai Duty Free Irish Open today.
It's a fine turnaround for smith after he pulled out of the Andalucia Masters at the start of the month following a nightmare start. He subsequently explained that he was mentally burnt out after even straight weeks in the European Tour's protective bubble.
“It was a long eight weeks,” he explained after his round at Galgorm Castle in Co Antrim.
“I should have probably broken it up and it just got me a little bit. There wasn't any other reason for it. I just didn't want to play golf at that point so last week did absolutely nothing, put the clubs away for a little bit, chilled and now we're back on track."
He recorded 13 pars and five birdies in a brilliant first round today.
Smith added: “It was good fun. It was Baltic this morning. I just hit lots of good iron shots and if I did miss a green it was always in the easiest spot. I am happy, I would say. I need to go work on my driving a little bit and holing out but apart from that very, very happy.”
Shane Lowry had a difficult day as he shot a shot a five-over-par 75 leaving him 10 shots off the lead.
There were contrasting fortunes for Irish amateur James Sugrue who broke into the top five with a five-birdie, two-bogey round of 67.
