McIlroy chasing leader Willett at Irish Open

4:26 PM ET

Masters champion Danny Willett and tournament host Rory McIlroy capitalised on a favourable draw as the cream rose to the top in the Dubai Duty Free Irish Open.

Willett carded eight birdies and a solitary bogey at the K Club in a seven-under-par 65 to finish two shots ahead of McIlroy, who has missed the cut in this event for the last three years.

South Africa’s Jaco van Zyl and England’s Callum Shinkwin were a shot further back, with defending champion Soren Kjeldsen, two-time major winner Martin Kaymer, 2010 champion Ross Fisher and Brett Rumford on three under.

Fisher and Kaymer were the only players in the first half of the field to break 70 as heavy downpours lashed the 2006 Ryder Cup venue before giving way to bright and breezy conditions in the afternoon.

“It did not look pretty when I opened the curtains and I think today was a tale of two halves really,” said Willett, who missed the cut by a shot in the Players Championship last week in his first event since Augusta. “Three under this morning was a fantastic score and to be able to do four better this afternoon I’m very happy.

“Last week didn’t quite go as we planned but we were still a little bit tired, a …

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