Germany’s Alex Cejka shot a seven under par 64 to move two shots clear of the field after the first round of the Trophee Lancome at St-Nom-La-Breteche.
Cejka, winner of three European Tour events in 1995, bogeyed the first but picked up eight birdies to move two clear of European Tour Number One Colin Montgomerie, a winner of five titles already this season, Australian Peter Senior and Argentina’s Jose Coceres.
Senior shot a 66 after grabbing birdies on six of the first eight holes, while Montgomerie did most of his good work on the inward half.
He sank putts of 20 and seven feet at the 10th and 11th, rolled in a 30-footer three holes later and then chipped to four feet at the long 16th.
Just as impressive was the Scot's saving of a par on the 209-yard 18th, his ninth hole of the morning.
Montgomerie's tee shot was caught by the wind and finished in the back edge of the greenside bunker. He had to stand outside the sand to play his recovery, got it to 12 feet and holed.
Seven of Europe's 12-strong side for the defence of the Ryder Cup in Boston starting Friday week were in France. The defending champion Miguel Angel Jimenez, Jean Van de Velde and Jose Maria Olazabal opened with three under par 68’s while Captain Mark James and Jarmo Sandelin shot a one under 70. New father Andrew Coltart shot a one over 72 to lie alongside Paul Lawrie.
Montgomerie is again chasing a tour record-equalling sixth win of the season.
