In the sometimes stifling heat which bathed the Golf National on Thursday, Kevin Stadler delivered one of the most impressive demonstrations of the last editions of the Alstom Open de France. By compiling seven birdies without conceding a single bogey, the 34-year-old American has perfectly negotiated his baptism of fire on the Albatross. “It's one of my best games of the year, hands down. After my practice laps, I never thought I could avoid the bogeys. The wind was virtually nonexistent today, and if there was a day to tackle the course, it was this. " Very comfortable and visibly happy to be there, the son of Craig Stadler, winner of the Masters in 1982, relishes his first appearance on French soil: “I've always wanted to come here. Some guys in the US have told me it's one of the best tournaments of the season. And I agree! " Even if three laps still remain to be contested, he is ideally placed to become the 4th American winner of the "French Open" after Walter Hagen (1920), Byron Nelson (1955) and Barry Jaeckel (1972).

Starting at 12:50, Stadler was the only player of the afternoon to improve on the excellent 65 (-6) posted at the end of the morning by Marcel Siem. The German, crowned here in 2012, has managed to overcome the fatigue of the last days - his second child, a daughter, was born last week - to find his marks on the Albatross, where he had missed the cut the last year. “This week is very important to me. I love this course because it is not a putting competition. Last week I putt really badly, but today the putts fell. I am really delighted with it. " Second to a stroke from Stadler, Siem was one length ahead of Steven Gallacher (66, -5), who was -7 three holes from the end and conceded two bogeys to conclude. The Scotsman, who is aiming for a place in the European squad for the next Ryder Cup to be played in his homeland, has nevertheless taken an ideal start in the context of his quest.

As for the French, Victor Dubuisson did not have the beautiful day that the large crowd had hoped for. Aligned with defending champion Graeme McDowell (70, -1) and US Open winner Martin Kaymer (72, +1), the Cannois made a triple bogey from his first hole, which he did not never delivered. He has to settle for a frustrating 76 (+5) card. “This triple bogey is the summary of my day. I took the ball in the heel of the club and made a horrible socket. From there, I had no fun on this still demanding course. After such a disappointing first round, we have to look forward to the second. In golf, as we know, the truth of one day is not that of the next day. "

It is another Victor - Riu - who occupies the place of first Frenchman. The player trained in Saint-Nom-la-Bretèche lined up three birdies on his last four holes to make a good card of 68 (-3). "It's really a very good surprise! I did not expect to do as well after a rather poor first part of the season on the European circuit. The key for me today was putting. " Sixth, Riu is suddenly ahead of Alexander Levy, author of a 69 (-2) this morning. The Marseillais, passed very close to the hole in one at 16, was delighted with his performance: “Concentration, patience, no mistake in strategy, there is much to be satisfied. My game is in place and the putting went pretty well. It was also very pleasant to feel the support of the public throughout the course. " Besides Riu and Levy, five other Habs are temporarily in a position to pass the cut: the astonishing Raphaël Marguery (70), from qualifying, as well as Grégory Havret, Joël Stalter, Thomas Linard and Alexandre Kaleka (72).