Jeev Milkha Singh

Nobody could accuse Indian golfer Jeev Milkha Singh of having had a dull year so far - and eventful was certainly the way to describe his opening 66 in the Irish Open on Thursday.

One of three Asian players invited to the Masters at Augusta last month, Singh shares the lead at Adare Manor with Australian left-hander Richard Green.

In the space of 30 minutes the 36-year-old went from having a near-albatross to tangling with a bush with one hand in his pocket and salvaging par with a 40-foot putt.

It was the sort of rescue act that Colin Montgomerie and defending champion Padraig Harrington were unable to produce.

The former, whose 88th position on the world rankings represents his lowest standing in the game since 1990, managed only a 75 after running up a double-bogey seven on the 528-yard seventh.

Harrington, meanwhile, returned a 72 that included a bogey six on the long 18th after he hooked his drive into the River Maigue.

Darren Clarke also shot 72, Paul McGinley 73 and Lee Westwood 75, but their 19-year-old stablemate, Rory McIlroy, is well in touch following his 70.