South African Roger Wessels came home in just 30 strokes for an eight under par 63 to set the pace after the first round of the Trophee Lancome at St-Nom-La-Breteche.
Wessels didn’t drop a shot to edge ahead of Spain’s Miguel Angel Martin and Australian left-hander Nick O’Hern, who closed with three birdies for a round of 64. A shot further back were another two Spaniards – Santiago Luna and Jose Maria Olazabal.
Scotland's Andrew Coltart picked up an eagle and five birdies helping him to a five under par 66 to lie alongside BMW International Open champion Thomas Bjorn and Holland’s Martin Lafeber.
Masters champion Vijay Singh is in the group just four shots off the pace alongside Darren Clarke, the current leader of the Volvo Order of Merit, who also closed with three straight birdies. 1999 Open champion Paul Lawrie also shot a 67.
Colin Montgomerie, still nursing an injured back, shot a 69 after four birdies and two dropped shots while Lee Westwood was frustrated by an off day on the greens in his 68.
It could have been even worse for the 27-year-old Englishman but for an eagle on the sixth followed by a birdie on the seventh - his 15th and 16th holes - which lifted him up the leaderboard.
"I hit a lot of good putts but only holed three all day," Westwood said. "But 68 is a fair start, I didn't play particularly well tee to green but there was no damage done."
