England’s Robert Rock has been disqualified from the Irish Open for making a mistake on his scorecard, after an opening round 65 that would have left him one shot off leader David Howell (22/1 – 3 Irish Open In-Play).

Tournament officials found Rock, who lost last year’s Irish Open in a play-off to then-amateur Shane Lowry, had mixed up his scores on the 14th and 15th holes at the Killarney Golf Club and threw him out of the event.

Ryder Cup vice-captain Darren Clarke (14/1) shot a five-under 66 to give himself a chance of making Colin Montgomerie’s team as a player while fellow Northern Irishman Rory McIlroy (7/2) carded a 67.

Scotland’s 1999 Open champion Paul Lawrie (40/1) managed to reach six under par but bogeyed the last to slip back alongside Clarke (2/1 to win his 2nd round 3-Ball).

Italy’s Francesco Molinari (14/1) also bogeyed the last to drop onto four under – one shot ahead of Padraig Harrington (18/1).

The former Irish Open winner is currently outside of the top nine places which would give him automatic qualification for a place on Europe’s team for Celtic Manor.

But he fared better than fellow-hopeful Justin Rose, who also needs to pick up Ryder Cup points, but he shot a disappointing three-over 74 in his first round.