Irish Open update:The leaders defied the Adare Manor course in the Irish Open first round, but for most of the 156-strong field it was a day of misery and big scores.

Joint leaders Peter Hanson and Peter Gustafsson of Sweden, Argentine Andres Romero and Simon Dyson mastered the tricky course to lead by a stroke with four-under 68s.

But at 7,453 yards, at full stretch the fifth longest to be played on the European Tour, it was always going to be a monster to tame.

Even when officials decided to lop 246 yards off it after heavy rain the previous day, it took its toll.

Ireland's Damian Mooney ran up a five-over 10 on the ninth and a nine on the 18th for a round of 92. Britain's Andrew Raitt also recorded a nine on the 18th, four-over for the hole.

There were myriad triple-bogeys and double-bogeys and only 16 players broke par, despite benign weather.

Last week's Andalucia winner Lee Westwood was one of them, repeating his feat of the previous week when winning at Aloha, by holing a big putt for par on the last for a 71.

But the 34-year-old Englishman, looking to consolidate a US Open return by staying in the world's top 50 by May 24th, was critical of the decision to deliberately lengthen the course.

He said: "It was a mistake to be quite honest. This golf course is in Ireland not Florida. If we get a 30 mph wind it could make us look a bit daft."

Strong winds are forecast for tomorrow's second round.

The four leaders coped admirably, though, edging clear of South Africans James Kingston and Louis Oosthuizen and another Swede, Christian Nilsson.

Hanson, whose only win came in the 2005 Spanish Open, was in first and said: "This is almost like a major championship set-up, like a U.S. Open course.

"And that's the sort of mental approach you have to take. But it fits my game really, really well. My strength is my long game. It was all about staying away from the rough and avoiding double-bogeys."

Dyson, who played the 2005 US Open at Pinehurst No 2, said it was the toughest course he had experienced on the European Tour: "It was very similar to Pinehurst, driving-wise it was exactly the same."

The face of the Irish challenge has alternated throughout the day but Paul McGinley fared best so far when he carded a 72. Despite being just four off the pace the Dubliner was not happy with his game.

"I'm pleased with my score but not pleased with the way I hit the ball. I didn't play very well," said McGinley after his round.

Padraig Harrington was prominent early on but a double bogey on the tenth checked his momentum and he dropped back to one-over, alongside another Irishman John Dwyer.

Graeme McDowell was best placed after 16 holes on one-under but a bogey on the 17th followed by a double on the last relegated him to two-over-par, the same score carded by Gary Murphy