Bradley Dredge opened with a 4-under par 67 and leads the Open de France by a stroke after 18 holes of play at Le Golf National.
The 34-year old Scot started his day with a bogey, but didn’t card another blemish the rest of the way, while adding five birdies. Afterwards, Dredge was pleased with his performance, noting the variance in scoring between the morning wave and the groups with later tee times.
“It was getting tougher and tougher out there. Obviously delighted with that score to start the tournament off,” said Dredge, who holds a world ranking of 411.
“I think it’s playing just right at the moment in terms of firmness. There’s just a bit of give on the fairways and the greens.
“Got off to a bad start on ten with a poor tee-shot and made bogey but after that, to remain bogey-free, very pleased with that.”
Dredge is one stroke clear of two-time winner Graeme McDowell of Northern Ireland, and Englishman Andy Sullivan, who posted matching 68s to sit T2. McDowell’s score was even more impressive when taking into account that he carded five bogeys.
One further back was Belgian Thomas Pieters, who overcame a 1-over 36 on the out with a bogey-free closing-nine 33, good for a 2-under par 69. South African Dean Burmester and Swede Robert Karlsson were joined with Pieters at T4.
A logjam of nine players were at 1-under 70, headlined by world No. 2 Justin Thomas. The American star had grabbed a share of the lead at 3-under par following two-straight birdies on Nos. 3 and 4 (his 12th and 13th), but a double bogey on the next hole dropped Thomas back to the 1-under par group.
Like Thomas, 23-year old superstar Jon Rahm was also at 3 under through 14 holes, but the Spaniard lost two shots after a double-bogey on the par-4 15th hole, and finished with a 1-under par 70.
World No. 19 Sergio Garcia Was tied for 34th after a 1-over 72, one shot-clear of hometown hero Alexander Levy who carded a 2-over par 73 to sit T48, alongside world No. 16 Alex Noren of Sweden and world No. 25 Rafa Cabrera-Bello of Spain.
Defending champion Tommy Fleetwood signed for a 3-over par 74, but is just seven shots back.
THE TOP 10
1. Bradley Dredge -4
2. Graeme McDowell -3
2. Andy Sullivan -3
4. Thomas Pieters -2
4. Robert Karlsson -2
4. Dean Burmester -2
7. Seung-su Han -1
7. Justin Thomas -1
7. Shane Lowry -1
7. James Morrison -1
7. Gregory Havret -1
7. Julian Suri -1
7. Chris Wood -1
7. Jon Rahm -1
7. Dylan Frittelli -1
NOTABLE
15. Matthew Fitzpatrick E
31. Sergio Garcia +1
31. Ian Poulter +1
31. Thorbjorn Olesen +1
42. Alexander Levy +2
42. Rafa Cabrera-Bello +2
42. Alex Noren +2
60. Tommy Fleetwood +3
60. Matt Wallace +3
108. Lee Westwood +6
108. Martin Kaymer +6
148. Thomas Bjorn +10
155. Andrew Johnston +11
158. Jose Maria Olazabal +14
STAT LEADERS
DRIVING
1. Jacques Kruyswijk – 330.5 yards (T93, +5)
2. Laurie Canter – 316.5 yards (T80, +4)
3. Charlie Ford – 315.5 yards (T29, +1)
105. Bradley Dredge – 282.5 yards (1st, -4)
FAIRWAYS
1. Charlie Ford – 12/14, 85.7% (T29, +1)
1. Edoardo Molinari – 12/14, 85.7% (T59, +3)
1. Jacques Kruyswijk – 12/14, 85.7% (T93, +5)
105. Bradley Dredge – 6/14, 42.9% (1st, -4)
GREENS
1. Dylan Frittelli – 16/18, 88.9% (T15, E)
2. Andy Sullivan – 15/18, 83.3% (T2, -3)
2. Dean Burmester – 15/18, 83.3% (T4, -2)
2. Sengsu Han – 15/18, 83.3% (T7, -1)
2. Jordan Smith – 15/18, 83.3% (T15, E)
6. Bradley Dredge – 14/18, 77.8% (1st, -4)
PUTTING/GIR
1. Austin Connelly – 1.40 (T29, +1)
1. Oliver Farr – 1.40 (T127, +8)
3. Brandon Stone – 1.44 (T59, +3)
33. Bradley Dredge – 1.71 (1st, -4)
VIDEO: SHOT OF THE DAY
Martin Kaymer with a hole-out birdie from the rough on the par-3 2nd hole. Kaymer got to even par with his chip-in gain. But the German star lost his round with a triple-bogey-7 on the par-4 4th hole, followed by three-straight bogeys on Nos. 5-7 en route to a 6-over 77.
QUOTABLE
“It was getting tougher and tougher out there. Obviously delighted with that score to start the tournament off.”
– Bradley Dredge
