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Tom McKibbin produces a big blow at the sixth to drive the green and takes two putts from there to collect his first birdie of the round and move up to six under.

Quietly going about his business.

But Rasmus Hojgaard gets another birdie putt to disappear. He's four under through six and sits in third place on his own.

Joaquin Niemann, the 18-hole leader, completes this three-ball. He makes it three threes at this hole and he's alongside McKibbin at six under.

Shane Lowry plays an educated third out of the tall stuff, bumping his ball into the bank and watching it roll out to around 20 feet.

But he can't get the putt to drop so that's his first blemish of the day. He leads by two now.

Pars for Jacob Skov Olesen and Li Haotong.

First bit of trouble for Shane Lowry today. After a hooked drive on the fifth, he lashes out of the nasty rough and his ball flies over the green.

Even for a man of such plentiful short-game skills, this is going to be a tough up-and-in for par.

Deary me. Niklas Norgaard was up on the dunes at the fifth and needed a couple of digs to get himself out of trouble.

Left with a five-footer for a double bogey...and he's missed it!

After a couple of birdies, the Dane plummets down the field.

That's big. Short of the green in two at the fifth, Rasmus Hojgaard chips up to six feet and drains the left-to-righter to keep a clean card and remain five back.

He's looking good.

Shane Lowry is just short of the greenside bunker in two at the par-five fourth and takes the putter out. It's a decent effort but comes up four feet shy.

But he makes it! Two under through four holes and the Irishman moves to -13. Just the start he wanted.

Jacob Skov Olesen isn't letting the leader out of his sights though. The left-handed Dane also picks up a birdie to remain three back.

Quick look at how things stand at the moment.

-12 Lowry

-9 Olesen

-8 Norgaard, Hojgaard, Li

-6 Reed, Rodrigues

Niklas Norgaard has bounced back admirably after that double bogey six on the opening hole with birdies at three and four.

The Dane is back to level par for the round and eight under for the tournament.

That's a shame.

Having given himself a nice platform with two birdies in the first four holes, Bob MacIntyres drops a shot at five, his first bogey since the sixth yesterday.

The world number 18 is eight shots off the lead.

US President Donald Trump has arrived at Doonbeg.

Nearly another birdie for Shane Lowry! After taking an iron for position off the third tee, his approach was straight down the banner but spun back down towards the front of the green.

His putt from distance scares the hole but misses and he makes the one coming back.

Jacob Skov Olesen, however, rolls in a short birdie putt after a delightful approach, so he moves into second on his own at nine under.

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Rasmus Hojgaard wrecked Rory McIlroy's dreams of an Irish Open win at Royal County Down two years ago.

Might he do the same to Shane Lowry this weekend? Well, he's certainly making a move today with a hat-trick of birdies from the second and he joins the group at eight under.

Tom McKibbin started the day at five under and that's where he stands right now, but only after missing a three-footer for a birdie on the par-five fourth.

Big chance gone, but he's still well in this.

If, like me, you were enjoying the Solheim Cup coverage this morning, it continues to be a thriller in the Netherlands.

Europe led the United States 7-5 after the morning foursomes and both sides are up in two matches in the fourballs.

Evenly poised. You can follow the action here.

Patrick Reed has got it going early today with a couple of birdies in his first four holes.

At six under, the former Masters winner - and current Race to Dubai leader - is firmly in contention.

Not to be this time for Shane Lowry, whose birdie try slips past on the right.

Li Haotong then misses from about six feet, passing up a golden opportunity for a birdie, and it's a par for Jacob Skov Olesen too.

More bad news for Rory McIlroy.

After a bogey on five, he is forced to take an unplayable after another wild drive at the short par-four sixth.

It leads to his second double bogey of the round and he's pretty much shot himself out of the tournament already.

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Shane Lowry is made to wait before hitting his approach into the second green as a couple of helicopters appear in the sky.

Lowry shares a laugh with an on-course official. It's definitely not something you see every day at a golf tournament.

After a few minutes, he clips a short iron to around 15 feet from the pin.

Like Jon Rahm, Bob MacIntyre cashed in at the par-five fourth with a birdie. That's his second birdie of the day and the Scot is well placed at five under.

Could he emerge through the pack to become Shane Lowry's closest challenger?

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Jon Rahm has had an up-and-down start to his third round. He birdied the second after nearly spinning his approach back into the cup for a two.

He bogeyed the next but bounced right back with a birdie four at the fourth.