World number one Rory McIlroy finished with a nine-over-par 80 in windy conditions on Thursday, leaving him in danger of missing the cut at the Irish Open for the third consecutive year.
"Just to make the cut. I've missed the cut the last two years in the Irish open and I don't want to make it three in a row. So I want to at least go out there tomorrow and fight for it, try to claw my way back up towards the cut line and if i can sneak in there that would be great."
Former champion Padraig Harrington shot a four-under 67 to tie with Maximilian Kieffer from Germany on top of the standings.
Elsewhere,
Australia's Steven Bowditch shot an eight-under-par 62 to take a two-shot lead over Jimmy Walker after the first round at the Byron Nelson Open in Texas.
