Matt Fitzpatrick found himself just two strokes behind the early frontrunner at the FedEx Open de France, as defending champion Michael Kim surged to the top of the leaderboard following what he described as a "dream start" at Le Golf National. Kim’s opening round was a showcase of flawless golf. He carded eight birdies, four of which came on the first six holes, and finished the day with a pristine, bogey‑free 63.
That low‑scoring round gave him a comfortable two‑stroke cushion over the rest of the field. Starting his round on the back nine, the American continued his momentum. After a birdie on the 11th, he added two more birdies on the 14th, and then broke his string of pars by gaining a shot on the par‑four first hole. Although he missed an opportunity on the par‑five third, he quickly recovered with consecutive birdies from the fifth onward, propelling him to the summit of the leaderboard.
He then extended his advantage further by picking up another shot on the par‑five ninth, effectively doubling the gap between himself and the chasing pack, which included Fitzpatrick. "Just a dream start," Kim said after his round. "All parts of my game were really good, especially my irons and my putting.
I couldn't have asked for a better start." Fitzpatrick also enjoyed a clean opening round, delivering six birdies and posting a six‑under 65. His performance placed him among a seven‑man tie for second place after the first day.
Thriston Lawrence was a single stroke behind the leader until a bogey on the final hole dropped him back to six under par, joining Ryder Cup hopeful Kristoffer Reitan and England’s Sam Bairstow, who were also two shots off the lead. Australian Jason Scrivener, along with the Italian pair Giorgio De Leo and Matteo Manassero, rounded out the group tied for second. Ryder Cup vice‑captain Edoardo Molinar sat three strokes behind the leader on five under par.
"Really good day," Fitzpatrick reflected. "Great start to the week and relatively stress‑free, which is always nice – particularly around this golf course." Further down the leaderboard, Viktor Hovland was four strokes off the early lead, sharing that distance with American Ryan Gerard.
Former Ryder Cup winner Tommy Fleetwood, who was part of Europe’s victorious team at this venue in 2018, posted a modest two‑under 69. In contrast, Manuel Elvira, who had double‑bogeyed the 72nd hole to miss out on a BMW PGA Championship win the previous Sunday, struggled mightily, recording a nine‑over 80 that left him near the bottom of the standings. The tournament’s next round will continue on Friday, with live coverage beginning at 12:30 pm on Sky Sports Golf. Viewers can also catch the action via NOW, which offers streaming without a contract, and can explore the latest Sky Sports deals for additional viewing options.
Looking ahead, the field will be watching to see whether Kim can maintain his early dominance or if any of the tightly packed chasers, such as Fitzpatrick, Lawrence, or the seasoned Ryder Cup players, can mount a comeback. The course at Le Golf National, known for its demanding layout and strategic water hazards, often rewards precise iron play and steady putting—strengths that Kim highlighted in his post‑round comments. As the tournament progresses, consistency will be key, and the ability to avoid costly mistakes on the challenging par‑fives and tricky greens could determine who ultimately lifts the FedEx Open de France trophy.