Le Golf National, usually as exciting as a tax audit, played host to some surprisingly lively golf on day one. Michael Kim, channeling the spirit of a Parisian artist who’s just discovered a decent croissant, served up a “dream start.” He called it that, which is a polite way of saying he didn't drop a single shot and birdied his way to a 63. Eight birdies, folks. Four of them in the first six holes. It sounds less like golf and more like a polite conversation with the French turf.
Meanwhile, Matt Fitzpatrick, clearly not wanting to be out-dreamed, decided to show us all how it’s done with a quiet, blemish-free 65. He’s now part of a seven-way tie for second, which is basically golf’s way of saying, "You're doing great, but there's still a chap up there we're all pretending not to be too bothered about." It’s like being the sensible academic next to the guy juggling chainsaws.
We also spotted Ryder Cup heavyweights Viktor Hovland and Tommy Fleetwood. Fleetwood, who’s had a bit of a moment here before, and Hovland are hovering a few shots back. They’re currently looking like guests at a fancy party who’ve just realized they missed the canapés.
And then there's Manuel Elvira. After a recent tumble down the leaderboard that looked suspiciously like a golfing pratfall, he’s back at the less glamorous end. I’m hoping his recovery is more of a gentle stroll through the countryside with a thermos, less a sudden plunge into a dark well.
The next few days should be interesting. Will Kim keep dreaming, or will Fitzpatrick decide to shake things up? It’s golf, after all. A glorious, baffling human endeavor played out on perfectly manicured grass.