Molinari takes first-round lead at Irish Open with 63

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Franceso Molinari of Italy shot a 9-under 63 in the wind-free first round of the Irish Open.

BALTRAY, Ireland (AP) -- Francesco Molinari took advantage of calm conditions to shoot 9-under 63 Thursday in the first round of the Irish Open at County Louth in Baltray.

The Italian led by one stroke from Johan Edfors with a group of seven at 66 including former British Open champion Paul Lawrie, English Ryder Cup player Oliver Wilson, Nick Dougherty, Robert Rock, Shiv Kapur, Jamie Donaldson and Roop Kakko.

Another eight players shot 67 on a day when there was never more than a gentle breeze on a seaside course where the wind had battered players through two days of practice.

John Daly, after finishing second on Sunday in the Italian Open, birdied the last hole for a 68 and expressed relief that the wind did not blow.

"It was cold and rainy. I don't think I'd have broken par the other two days, but the lack of wind made it easier today.

Rory McIlroy carded a 69. Padraig Harrington shot 73.

Molinari, who won the Italian Open in 2006, agreed with Daly. "Yesterday was much windier so the course played much easier than yesterday. And my putting was good as well.

He had a 30-footer for eagle at the long third hole and another at the 13th.

"Today I could be more aggressive with the irons. I'm really happy with the game, and I hope to keep playing like this," Molinari said.

He has been in fine form lately, finishing third twice, sixth and 11th in his last four events.

"My short game used to be weak but I have worked on it a lot," he said. Edfors won three tournaments back in 2006. "But I'm a much better player now than I was then. I'm much more consistent even if the results have not always shown it," he said.

He made 10 birdies, but it was his approach play that made it easy. "Every time I hit a good approach; it was really close. I didn't hole a putt from more than 10 feet all day," Molinari said.

Lawrie, who won the Open 10 years ago at Carnoustie, showed his love of links golf with his 66. Lawrie grew up playing links golf around his home in Aberdeen, on Scotland's east coast. "I played it week-in, week-out when I was young," he said. "I always prefer links courses, always have done."

Dougherty worked on his short game and putting last week using the putter with which he won the 2005 Singapore Masters title.

"I chipped and putted phenomenally today, which is why there were no bogeys," he said.

McIlroy, 20 last week, started slowly with two bogeys on his first three holes but played the last 10 in five under.

He struggled by pushing a few shots out to the right. "My game did not feel comfortable, but I got round in 3 under, so I'm not out of it," he said.

Daly sprayed some tee shots but was blessed with good lies. A 7-iron got him out of the rough at the first and he saved par. "I feel like I'm doing better with the putter. I chipped and putted pretty good," he said.

This is the third of five successive events Daly is playing in Europe.