Cork (Ireland) (AFP) - Finland?s Mikko Ilonen ignored the script to easily outshine his more-fancied local rivals, including double Major winning Rory McIlroy, on the opening day of the Irish Open on Thursday. Illonen, 34, celebrated his 300th European Tour event setting a new course record of a seven-under par 64 in superb scoring conditions on the Fota Island course in Cork. In contrast, McIlroy, the highest world ranked player in the field at No 6, had just three birdies and double the number of bogeys in a three-over-par 74 to trail 10 shots behind the triple Tour-winning Finn. Illonen capped his round birding five of his closing seven holes and taking just 26 putts, to end near lunch leading by three shots from the duo of Italy?s Edoardo Molinari and England?s Matthew Baldwin. More...