Stephen Gallacher has boosted his chance to qualify for next fortnight’s Open Championship after a 68 on day one of the French Open in Versailles.
The reigning Omega Dubai Desert Classic raced to five under par and tied for the lead after just seven holes and then took the lead at six under through 13 holes on the Le National course.
However Gallacher let slip top spot on the board with three closing bogeys to end the round two shots behind Dane Anders Hansen who shot a 66 on the par 71 2018 Ryder Cup host venue.
Portugal’s Ricardo Santos during day one of the 2013 French Open. (Photo – David Lloyd/www.golffile.ie)
Gallacher said: “It was a bit disappointing to end like I did but apart from that I am delighted as I would have easily taken three over starting out on one of the best courses in the world.
“Every single hole is demanding and it’s just good to be under par.
“I played good all day and it was just a couple of poor shots there at the end.”
Gallacher arrived in France lying 23rd on the Race to Dubai money list but fifth among those list of players not yet into The Open.
But to qualify for only his sixth Open Championship the Scot needs to end the French Open not only top-five but inside the top-20 on the Race to Dubai.
He currently trails the 20th placed player in Malaysia’s Kiradech Aphibarnrat by £17,535.
Aphibarnrat is already exempt into Muirfield and started poorly with a 76 on his French Open debut so all Gallacher really needs to do is firstly make the cut and then finish top-30 that should assure him an Open Championship tee time.
Three Scots – Scott Jamieson, Marc Warren and Richie Ramsay – each posted 69s.
Warren, who is fourth among the non-exempt Open qualifiers, is just one spot in 21st and only £850 behind the burly 2013 Malaysian Open winner.
Ramsay was delighted with his form in returning to competition after a six-week break due to a nagging hip injury.
He said: “I am really pleased how my hip was today and I was saying to one of the guys this morning that when someone takes something away from you, you then realise how much you want it and how much you like coming out to compete.
“That was my attitude today and I played some great golf today, and to be two under par around here and on arguable one of the toughest golf courses we will play all year is very pleasing.
“When I walking the hip is fine but it still does hurt when I sit down and rest and I can feel it.
“So it was nice to just test it in competition and to get this first round out of the way.”
Former US Open champ, Graeme McDowell finished the best of the three players in the top-10 on the rankings competing in Versailles.
The World No. 9 McDowell, who has missed the cut in past two events, posted a one under par 70 while World No. 5 and visiting American Matt Kuchar a 71 while current World No. 8 Luke Donald signed for a one-over par 72.
