David Drysdale continues to impress after carding a four-under-par 67 on the opening day of the French Open.
David Drysdale continues to impress after carding a four-under-par 67 on the opening day of the French Open.
The Scot bogeyed two of his outward nine holes before a rousing inward half of 30 in hot and humid conditions on the National Club course.
It left Drysdale, who is tied with fellow Scot Paul Lawrie, five strokes adrift of Germany's Martin Kaymer who shot a superb nine-under-par 62.
Kaymer, who is chasing a first Tour victory this year, went into the opening round having led his pro-am team to victory but only after a doctor had cut away a portion of the German's right shoe after he complained of blisters on his little toe.
Five players - Sweden's Peter Hanson, Thailand's Thongchai Jaidee, Australia's Scott Strange, 2006 French Open champion John Bickerton of England and Argentina's Rafa Echenique, who holed out at the last for an albatross in Munich last week - are next best after rounds of 65.
Drysdale's effort continues a superb run of form this season starting with a third place result in January's Joburg Open before he virtually wrapped up his card for 2010 three events later courtesy of a second-place finish in the Andalucian Open.
The Cocksburnspath player was not into the French Open field but secured his place in the 4m event after finishing fourth and inside the top-10 in last week's BMW International Open. But after seven years of uncertainly when Drysdale had not known to near year's end if he has retained automatic playing rights, he's now competing stress free knowing he will not have to again travel to the Qualifying School in November.
"I am certainly more relaxed compared to the positions I have found myself in before, knowing that my card for next season is secure," he said.
"I feel as though I can chill out' on the golf course, and I am finding I am more patient because it's the first time in my career that I have managed to wrap-up my card so early in a season. So you're now seeing the real David Drysdale out there on the golf course as it's definitely been a huge weight off my shoulders.
"When I play at home with family and friends, I'm very relaxed and there's no reason why I can't take that out into tournament play. Now I do feel nice and relaxed and I am more patient on the course."
Drysdale began his round from the 10th and bogeyed the 14th and 18th holes where his tee shot was headed for a water hazard but spun back to stop just short of making a splash. He then ignited his round at the second hole from where he proceeded to go birdie, eagle, birdie, birdie ahead of a closing hole birdie.
"To be two over par after 10 and finish four under is not too bad," Drysdale added.
Lawrie ended his round near 7pm local time with a birdie to join Drysdale.
"I played lovely and scored better than I have been doing, though my ball-striking was not as good as it's been but a birdie at the last is always a nice way to finish," said Lawrie.
Marc Warren revealed he went back to the putter that helped win the 2006 Scandinavian Masters to record a 68 and Colin Montgomerie also birdied his last in a 69.
