PTI

Adare Manor, May 18: Jeev Milkha Singh had an eagle two but he also missed a lot of putts and could manage only a two-over 74, which was the best among the Indian trio at the Irish Open.

Jeev, ranked 54th in the world, shot a two-over 74 and was tied 42nd, while Jyoti Randhawa carded a 76 and was tied 85th. Shiv Kapur with a five-over 77 was 99th.

England's Simon Dyson, shot a four-under 68 to be the joint leader.

Jeev had an eagle two on the par-4 15th, and he also had two birdies on third and 13th, but six bogeys meant he was pulled back to 74. In windy conditions, he found just six fairways and needed 33 putts.

Jyoti had four birdies, but he was done in by a triple on the first and double bogey on 18th, besides three other bogeys. Kapur had four bogeys between the first and fifth holes, besides another bogey and a double bogey for his 77. He had two birdies on seventh and eighth.

Dyson, who once played with Luke Donald and Paul Casey on Walker Cup team in 1999 won the Asian Order of merit in 2000, but then took till 2006 to win on European Tour when he won Indonesia Open. He also won the KLM Open in August but has five top tens to his credit already this season.

With his 68 he shares the lead with Swedes Peter Hanson and Peter Gustafsson and Argentina's Andres Romero after the first round at Adare Manor Hotel and Golf Resort, which at 7,453 yards is the longest course in Irish Open history, and the fifth longest to be used for a European Tour event.

South African James Kingston (69) was a shot back in tied fifth place while Korea's Yang Yong-eun, winner of the HSBC Champions in Shanghai last year, carded a 72 with three birdies, one double bogey and one bogey for equal 17th position.

Leader of the UBS Order of Merit, Anton Haig of South Africa shot a 74 to share 42nd place. Alongside Jeev was Singaporean Mardan Mamat with 74. Pre-tournament favourite Padraig Harrington finished with a 73.