AfrAsia Bank Mauritius Open - Day one digest

Everything you need to know from day one at Mont Choisy Le Golf.

Bjorn rolled back the years and Detry dodged the rain as Välimäki led the way at the AfrAsia Bank Mauritius Open.

Here is all you need to know from Thursday's action.

Bjorn gets his feet wet

European Ryder Cup vice-captain, and 2018 skipper, Thomas Bjorn showed he still has his touch with a stunning up and down at the short 15th.

After his tee-shot trickled into the water hazard beside the green, Bjorn splashed out to within three feet and rolled in the par putt for a remarkable save.

Bjorn’s back nine also contained a pair of eagles, including a chip-in at the last, as he found his way to two under despite finishing his front nine with three straight bogeys.

No putter required for Detry

Thomas Detry kept his putter in the bag for two straight holes on his front nine of 33.

The Belgian got nothing going for the first three holes but got up and running in style with this effort from just short of the fourth green.

And he was not finished there – after narrowly avoiding a greenside bunker at the next, he produced another chip-in this time for eagle.

Having spent parts of his round dodging the rain, along with his wife who was caddying for him, perhaps Detry was just keen to keep the putter dry.

More to come from record-breaker?

Sami Valimaki led the way after a course-record 62 on day one, with two separate runs of four consecutive birdies and 10 in total in a bogey-free round.

Asked about the possibility of lowering his record still further to 11 under, he said with a smile: "Hopefully, tomorrow!"

Bad boy

Wildlife on the course is one of the highlights of the early-season African swing but this naughty dog took too keen an interest in the ball, before eventually letting go and running off.

Happy holidays

Early pace-setter Pierre Pineau was taking advantage of the schedule to give himself a pre-Christmas break with his family in the tourist paradise of Mauritius.

"I'm going to stay a few days after with my family for a holiday,” he said after his round of 65. “It's a very nice place to end the year.”