Pleasant was the watchword for Padraig Harrington after his opening round at the Irish Open.

The three-time major winner had struggled with a wrist injury pre-tournament. But he is setting the pace after an excellent 7-under 63.

Afterwards, he spoke to Nathan Murphy and it seemed he was very much at ease on the Lahinch course.

"I know I keep using the word pleasant and nice, but that's what it kind of was like out there," he said.

"Myself and Poulter were having a stroll, having a chat and good things were happening, which obviously makes it easier.

Straightforward

"I didn't have to work that hard and I wasn't out of position very much all day. The first real chip shot I had was on 11 where I didn't get up and down. It was that kind of day.

"It was pretty straightforward. And I won't say the momentum was with me - good things were happening - but it was a stress-free round."

Pre-tournament on Wednesday, he had expressed surprise at being 100-1 for the tournament.

"100-1 was too high anyway  just because it is a links golf course," he said.

"The wise man might have had an each-way bet on me at that. But it would've been a big call for anybody to predict that I was going to come out here and win it.

"I'm in good form now, 7-under. This gives me a lot of different scenarios where I can be in with a chance of winning on Sunday."

You can watch the full chat with Padraig Harrington above via the video player.

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