The Dubliner won the US Senior Open in 2022 and has been runner-up in The Senior Open in both 2022 when he was one shot behind Darren Clarke and then 2023 where he lost a play-off with Alex Cejka at Royal Porthcawl. Darren Clarke, who was among the later groups, made a strong start and was three-under for his opening nine holes. Meanwhile, Leona Maguire's struggles this season continued as she shot an opening three-over 75 at the Mexico Riviera Maya Open at Mayakoba on the LPGA Tour. The 29-year-old two-time winner on tour has only one top-10 in the 2025 season, and will be looking to avoid a second missed cut in a row. On the Ladies European Tour, Moa Folke fired an excellent round of 64 (-7) to hold a two-shot lead at the end of the first day of the Jabra Ladies Open. The morning tee times were delayed by one hour due to heavy rainfall in Evian-les-Bains but play got underway at 9am (local time). Sweden’s Folke only dropped one shot around Evian Resort and Golf Club rolling in eight birdies on day one in France. Anna Foster was best of the Irish players in the field, sitting in a tie for 12th on two-under. On the DP World Tour, Joost Luiten made the most of home comforts to post an opening six under par 65 and take a share of the first round lead at the Soudal Open. The Dutchman is staying at home just across the Belgium-Netherlands border this week and made the most of familiar surroundings to share a one-stroke lead with Canadian Aaron Cockerill and Spain’s Angel Ayora at Rinkven International Golf Club. Starting from the tenth, six-time DP World Tour winner Luiten made the turn at three under with his birdie at the 18th the first of three in a row as he opened a gap at the top of the leaderboard. He gave a shot back at the par four third hole, but responded immediately with a birdie at the fourth and an eagle at the fifth to reach seven under. He carded his second and final bogey of the day at the very next hole, before parring his way in to set the target. That target was matched by Ayora, who was on course to take the lead on his own before bogeying his final hole, and Cockerill who went bogey-free round the Antwerp lay-out to post his lowest round on the 2025 Race to Dubai. The leading trio are one stroke ahead of three players who share fourth place, with South African Thriston Lawrence making a strong start in his first round of the European Swing alongside American Sean Crocker and Englishman Marco Penge, who continued his excellent run of form. The 27-year-old won his maiden DP World Tour title at the Hainan Classic last month before finishing in a tie for 28th place on his US PGA Championship debut at Quail Hollow Club last week.