Shane Lowry sets the pace with bogey-free round to move into outright lead at Royal Troon

Shane Lowry made the ideal start to his bid for a second Open title as Rory McIlroy effectively wrote off his chances of doing the same at Royal Troon.

Lowry carded a flawless 66 to hold a two-shot lead over former world number one Justin Thomas after McIlroy struggled to an opening 78.

It was a contrast which immediately brought to mind the 2019 Open at Royal Portrush, when Lowry started with a 67 on his way to the Claret Jug and McIlroy’s chances were blown away with a 79.

“It was enjoyable,” Lowry, who made birdies on the fourth, seventh, eighth, 11th and 18th, told Sky Sports.

“I got off to a bit of an iffy start and holed a couple of nice par putts early on and then I was off and running.

“I try not to think about it [2019] too much now. I holed a putt to go into the lead and I thought ‘It’s the first time I’ve led The Open in five years’.

“No matter what I do that week in Portrush will always have a special place in my heart. I love that place and I love this tournament.”

A downbeat Rory McIlroy had earlier dismissed his chances of mounting a challenge for a fifth major title after a costly run of holes around the turn.

McIlroy was level par after seven holes before running up a double bogey on the signature par-three eighth, the Northern Irishman’s first attempt to escape a bunker on the Postage Stamp coming back to his feet.

With the back nine playing downwind McIlroy was hopeful of repairing the damage, only to drive out of bounds on the 11th to run up another double bogey and eventually finish seven over par, 12 shots behind Lowry.

Asked if he could make up the ground he had conceded, there was a lengthy pause before McIlroy said: “I mean, all I need to focus on is tomorrow and try to make the cut. That’s all I can focus on.”

The 35-year-old, who agonisingly missed out on an overdue fifth major title in last month’s US Open, added: “I felt like I did OK for the first part of the round and then missed the green at the Postage Stamp there and made a double.

“But still, felt like I was in reasonable enough shape being a couple over through nine, thinking that I could maybe get those couple of shots back, try to shoot even par, something like that.

“Even though the wind on the back nine was helping, it was a lot off the left. I was actually surprised how difficult I felt like the back nine played. The conditions are very difficult in a wind that we haven’t seen so far this week.

“I guess when that happens it starts to present different options and you start to think about maybe hitting a few clubs that you haven’t hit in practice. Just one of those days where I just didn’t adapt well enough to the conditions.”

Bryson DeChambeau, who edged out McIlroy at Pinehurst to win his second US Open, also found himself well down the field following a 76, although the American did at least hole from 55 feet for an eagle on the 16th.

Sweden’s Alex Noren, who only secured his place in the field via a tie for 10th in the Scottish Open on Sunday, was a shot off the pace alongside American Russell Henley and Ryder Cup team-mates Justin Rose and Nicolai Hojgaard. AP

Rose, who had to come through a 36-hole qualifier to make it to Troon, carded two birdies and 16 pars in his bogey-free 69.

Lowry sets pace as McIlroy and Woods toil: As it happened . . .

08:39 PM BST

The day is drawing to a close

Few groups left out there. Dan Brown is in one of them, he’s on the 15th at the moment and he’s still on four-under. To find out how he finished read the report which will land above here soon.

08:28 PM BST

Shane Lowry talks to Sky Sports

On the round…

On whether he’s playing as well as he did when he won at Portrush…

08:23 PM BST

The wind has died down

And the conditions are currently as good as they have been all day. Good news for those late starters, one of whom is Dan Brown on four-under.

08:19 PM BST

Scheffler finishes with a birdie

So the world No.1 walks off the 18th with a one-under 70. He was solid rather than spectacular today but that was the order of the day. He’s lurking with intent only four off the lead.

Spieth also cards a level-par 71.

08:10 PM BST

Lowry finishes on five-under

As expected he drains the five-foot birdie putt to card a five-under 66. He was brilliant today, there were no bogeys and he’s the man to catch. It’s his first blemish-free round since he lifted the Claret Jug at Portrush – is that an omen?

Playing partner Fitzpatrick ends on one-under and Cam Smith walks off the 18th with an instantly forgettable nine-over (it would have been worse but for a birdie at the last)

08:05 PM BST

Who predicted Dan Brown would feature today?

08:04 PM BST

Great approach to the last from Lowry

He stiffs his 177-yard approach to five-feet and he’ll have yet another great chance to move to five-under. I reckon he’ll make this one…

08:02 PM BST

Morikawa ends on two-over 73

He never really got going, firing only…