Rory McIlroy in action during the first round of the Dubai Duty Free Irish Open on Thursday. Courtesy: DDF Irish Open twitter

Gulf Today, Staff Reporter

Lucas Herbert, the 2020 Omega Dubai Desert Classic champion, shot a 64 (8 under par) to lead by one shot after the first round of the €3 million Dubai Duty Free Irish Open held at Mount Juliet in Ireland on Thursday.

Herbert birdied eight of his last 13 holes to secure a one-shot lead over American Johannes Veerman, with Scotland's Grant Forrest a stroke further back and Martin Kaymer and Tommy Fleetwood part of a 15-strong group on five under.

Tournament favourite Rory McIlroy struggled all day and single putted the last two holes for a level par round of 72 in a round that could have been worse.

Herbert started on the back nine and followed a birdie on the 10th with a bogey on the next and three pars before a birdie on the 15th kickstarted his round.

"Made a really long one on 18 for birdie and that kind of sparked things and got things going," he said. "Was able to play really nice that last nine holes."

Open champion Shane Lowry returned a two-under-par 70.

Former US Open champion Graeme McDowell could struggle to make the cut even after birdies on the 17th and 18th salvaged a 74, while Ryder Cup captain Padraig Harrington fared even worse with a 76.