Gary Murphy is the best of the Irish during the first round of the 132nd Open at Royal St George's.
The Kilkenny man is on one under after eight and is tied for 10th position.
He faces competition from a group of seven, including Fredrik Jacobson, Vijay Singh and Ian Woosnam.
Darren Clarke and Padraig Harrington, the only European in the world's top 10, have had a nightmare opening round and are four over.
Harrington has two holes to play after four bogies and a double bogey on the eighth.
Paul McGinley, Ireland's other contender, tees off at 2.27pm.