Niall Kearney admits he’s inspired by Jonathan Caldwell’s breakthrough win as he chases his maiden victory in the BMW International Open in Munich.

Caldwell won the Scandinavian Mixed Hosted by Henrik & Annika two weeks ago, and Kearney is ready to follow in his footsteps.

The Royal Dublin professional (33) tied for fourth behind South African star Garrick Higgo in the Canary Islands Championship last month, and he’s back in contention after making six birdies in his weather-delayed first round at Golfclub München Eichenried.

The rangy, two-time Irish PGA champion was tied for fifth, two strokes off the lead with two holes to complete when play was suspended due to lightning.

“Of course,” Kearney said when asked if Caldwell’s win was motivational. “It was great to see him doing it. Class.”

As for his own game, he was pleased to birdie the 16th and 18th, then follow a birdie at the second with three in a row from the fourth.

“It’s a lovely track,” Kearney said. “I did nothing extraordinary, but I’m wedging it nicely and getting in relatively close.”

Australian Wade Ormsby shot a seven-under 65 to lead in the clubhouse as Caldwell made an eagle, two birdies and two bogeys in a 70 to share 49th on two-under.

Ryder Cup captain Pádraig Harrington dropped three shots in his last five holes to card a disappointing 72 alongside Bernd Wiesberger (67), while Paul Dunne carded a 73 despite the handicap of an opening triple-bogey seven.

In the KPMG Women’s PGA, Leona Maguire showed her resilience and bounced back three times from bogeys to open with a level-par 72 at a wet and lush Atlanta Athletic Club.

The Slieve Russell star bogeyed the first, eighth and 13th but birdies at the par-five fifth and 12th holes and a two at the 148-yard 17th saw her finish the day inside the top 40.

She was just five shots behind American Lizette Salas, whose five-under 67 gave her a two-shot lead over compatriot Yealimi Noh, Sweden’s Daniela Holmqvist, China’s Xiyu Lin and Canada’s Alena Sharp.

Meanwhile, Rory McIlroy will warm up for The Open by joining five players from the world’s top ten in the Scottish Open next month.

The world No 10 will head from next week’s Dubai Duty Free Irish Open to the Renaissance Club from July 8-11 to join world No 1 and recently-crowned US Open champion Jon Rahm.

Justin Thomas, Collin Morikawa and Xander Schauffele - the world’s third, fourth and fifth ranked players - will also tee it up in Scotland before they head to Royal St George’s for final major of the season.

On the Challenge Tour, St Anne’s Cameron Raymond made eight birdies in a five-under 65 to lie just two shots behind Austria’s Timon Baltl in the Open de Bretagne at Golf Bluegreen de Pléneuf Val André.

Kinsale’s John Murphy shot a two-under 68 to share 26th on his Challenge Tour debut with Paul McBride and Robin Dawson 62nd after 70s and Gavin Moynihan, Jonathan Yates and Conor O’Rourke 95th after 72s in Brittany.

At the PGA Tour’s Travelers Championship, Kramer Hickok’s seven-under 63 left him a shot clear of Talor Gooch at TPC River Highlands, where Seamus Power is a late starter.

BMW International, live, Sky, 12.30;
Travelers C’ship, live, Sky, 7.0;
Women’s PGA C’ship, live Sky, 6.0.