Dylan Frittelli equipped to build on a promising start

Sky Sports Golf, 10.30am Friday

New Zealand's Ryan Fox set the pace with an opening five-under-par 67 at the Irish Open on Thursday, but tournament host Rory McIlroy will be confident of pushing on at Ballyliffin in County Donegal as he finished just three shots off the pace.

There was worse news for defending champion Jon Rahm. He won the tournament by a six-shot margin last year but has plenty of work to do to make the cut after a disappointing 74.

South Africa's Dylan Frittelli will be pleased with his opening 69 and he should be able to build on that to make a challenge on the links layout.

Frittelli has missed three of his last five cuts, but he was in fine form last week at the French Open when only a couple of bad holes prevented him from finishing higher than 12th.

He was ranked first for greens in regulation at Le Golf National and he looks to have taken that fine form across the channel.

His playing partners Andy Sullivan and Mikko Korhonen had frustrating days, both finishing over par and it would not be a huge shock if Frittelli is able to claim the spoils in their 1.10pm threeball.

Recommendation
D Frittelli to win threeball
2pts 7-4 general

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