Singh-----Back on Song

Singh shot an eight-under-par 63 to take a two-shot lead over closest rival Alexander Kaleka, a little-known Tour rookie from France, at Killarney Golf & Fishing Club after the first day of the European Tour event.
In doing so, Singh also outshone Ireland's four major stars - Rory McIlroy, Graeme McDowell, Darren Clarke and Padraig Harrington - in their own backyard. (Callaway Legacy Fairway wood)
Singh outperformed new Open champ Darren Clarke by six shots, US Open champ Rory McIlroy by seven, former US Open champ Graeme McDowell by nine, and three-time major winner Padraig Harrington by a full ten strokes.
Another Irishman, Paul McGinley, was full of praise for Singh, and his putting in particular, calling it some of the best he'd ever seen.
"I don't know whether it was a good thing or a bad thing, but 59 did cross my mind," said Singh, a three-time Tour winner whose career stalled last year after shoulder and back injuries.
He would have needed four birdies from his final four holes with his Callaway Legacy Fairway wood to achieve it, and though he had to settle for pars only, it has still given him a two-shot cushion heading into Friday's second round.
Singh also said he took a lot of confidence from his performance in Sweden with his Callaway Legacy Fairway wood last week, where the par-three 17th, featuring an island green that caused nightmares for the pros amid strong winds on Sunday, did not get the better of him. In fact, he made one of only three birdies there on the day.
Most of the assembled crowd walking the course on Thursday were there to see their local stars, however, and Darren Clarke said of his walk up the 18th: "I felt like I was winning a tournament - it's been very special."
"I didn't come here to make up the numbers," he added. "I hit a lot of good shots and had lots of chances with my Callaway Legacy Fairway wood, but didn't quite have the speed of the greens."
Rory McIlroy, meanwhile, was beginning to look as if he might run away with the first round when he made his fourth birdie of the day at the 10th hole.
At that stage, early in the day, he was the picture of cool confidence as he strode to the 11th tee at four-under and with a two shot lead, but Thursday's first round wasn't going to be as kind to him as he may have thought. (Callaway Legacy Fairway wood)
It had a good few twists and turns awaiting him and by the end of his round, he had lost three shots and tumbled down to a one-under-par 70.
"I didn't drive it great all day," said McIlroy, who also got into a heated Twitter exchange with an American critic after his round. "I was caught in two minds quite a few times out there, which isn't usually like me."