The 24-year-old from Liverpool was left playing on his own for the remainder of his opening round, but was told by officials the draw would be rejigged to give him some company for the second round that followed almost immediately afterwards.

Dougherty, forced into the prospect of 36 holes in the day by yesterday’s rain hold-ups, reached the turn in a four under par and when he lipped out for eagle at the long 10th he moved alongside France’s Gregory Bourdy, who had completed a 67 earlier in the day, and English left-hander Stuart Little.

“Peter told me he’d been suffering with his back for a week or two and then on the first hole Jose Manuel said his ankle was causing him a problem,” commented Dougherty.

Ryder Cup pair Paul McGinley and Darren Clarke, round in 70 and 75 respectively yesterday, were not due to start their second rounds until late in the day and there was no chance of the halfway cut being decided before tomorrow.

Dougherty became leader on his own - literally as he had no playing partners - when he pitched to within a foot of the hole on the 361-yard 13th.

Bland, who lost a play-off for the 2002 Irish Open, went alongside Bourdy at five under after picking up another birdie on the 11th, but Little bogeyed the long 16th and was only four under as a result.

Little made up for going in the lake at the 16th by chipping in for birdie on the last from around 25 yards.

With a 67 he was in joint second place with Bourdy and Bland and right on the heels of Dougherty, who remained six under with three to play.

“On Tuesday morning I was only fourth reserve,” said Little, “but then suddenly it was first reserve and that made it an easy decision to come.

“I was up at the course at first light to see if anybody pulled out and luckily for me Anthony Wall did.”