Rory McIlroy birdies final three holes to sit two off lead at Irish Open

NEWCASTLE, Northern Ireland — Rory McIlroy birdied his final three holes to shoot 3-under 68 and sit two strokes off the first-round lead at the Amgen Irish Open on Thursday.

The No. 3-ranked McIlroy is attempting to win his home tournament for the second time — eight years after the first — and is playing at Royal County Down Golf Club, a course that is a short drive from his childhood home of Holywood and where he used to play with his friends.

Tough winds and some rain made for difficult conditions on a well-respected course in Northern Ireland and No. 291-ranked Todd Clements of England dealt with it the best, making five birdies and a 15-footer for eagle at the 18th — his ninth hole — for a 66 and the clubhouse lead.

Sami Valimaki of Finland and Alejandro Del Rey of Spain were in a tie for second after 67s. McIlroy was in a group a further stroke back — but only after a strong finish, just as his round looked like derailing after bogeys at Nos. 14 and 15 dropped him to level par.

A tap-in for birdie at the drivable 16th was followed by a 12-footer for birdie at the 17th. He reached the green in two at the par-15 18th and two-putted from 50 feet for three in a row.

McIlroy, who openly admits to struggling when playing in front of expectant home crowds, is back in Europe after the end of the PGA TOUR season. So is Robert MacIntyre, the No. 16-ranked Scot who is looking to become the first player ever to win the Scottish and Irish Opens in the same season.

MacIntyre opened with an even-par 71 while fellow Ryder Cup players Shane Lowry and Nicolai Højgaard both shot 72.