Justin Thomas and Jon Rahm got their first look at Le Golf National on Thursday.
It was the first round of the Open de France and things were tough and testy at this year’s site of the Ryder Cup matches.
It was windy, the rough was nasty and unforgiving.
Thomas managed to shoot 70 and hit it great for most of the day. “I made just two bad swings,” he said. One resulted in a double-bogey at the fifth, the other produced a bogey at the 13th. Otherwise, a good day, a one-under par 70 that left him just three behind first-round leader Bradley Dredge’s 67.
Ditto for Rahm. Rahm lamented that he missed just one shot all day. That “miss” caused him to make double-bogey at the 15th and he’d finish with 70.
In all, only 14 players managed to break 70 while another 14 shot even par rounds of 71.
Europe’s No. 1 player, Tommy Fleetwood, was among those who struggled. He finished with 74 and was tied for 59th and still within the predicted cut-line on a course that roughed up this field for the most part.
As for Dredge, he is a surprise leader. He lost his playing card last year and has been struggling to find his way back.
One factor in his favor is that he was in the morning wave.
The scoring was more difficult in the afternoon as the wind came up, and Dredge admitted he was happy to post his score from that morning wave.
“It was getting tougher and tougher out there,” he said. “Obviously delighted with that score to start the tournament off.
“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.”
