D+D Real Czech Masters - Day one digest

Big birds appear early doors, a Ryder Cup Vice Captain show the hopefuls how it is done and Välimäki records lowest ever round at the D+D Real Czech Masters.

Everything you need to know from the first round in Prague.

Flawless Sami leads the way

Sami Välimäki laid down a serious marker for the rest of the field with a flawless 63 in the opening round in Prague. The Finn carded the lowest round to be signed at Albatross Golf Resort, but it did not go down in the record books due to preferred lies at the 12th hole, where he carded one of his nine birdies. He said: "I was a bit disappointed I couldn’t make a third (62 in the season). I was just flowing. When you start putting good and hitting it good, you just keep going and enjoy the round."

Amazing Aberg start

Rising star Ludvig Aberg came to Albatross Golf Resort with talk of him potentially gatecrashing Luke Donald's European team for next month's Ryder Cup. The Swede, who only left the amateur ranks in June, played alongside fellow Ryder Cup hopeful Nicolai Højgaard and Vice Captain Francesco Molinari in his first round and he will have certainly made an impression on the opening hole.

Edoardo Molinari putts on a show

Edoardo Molinari is a Vice Captain for the Ryder Cup in their homeland next month, but they showed the hopefuls how it is done. Edoardo, who has struggled with his putting in recent years, has made a drastic change by switching to a long putter and the decision seemed to have paid dividends with his effort at the par three seventh - the sixth and final birdie in a flawless 66. "I’ve been putting very poorly for the last four or five years. I tried everything, different putting coaches, putting methods, nothing worked," the Italian said. "Thank god I had a good chat at the Scottish Open with Adam Scott, who I do some work with. We were having lunch and he said if I’m struggling on the greens I should try what he’s doing. I spent some time with it at home and today it was fantastic."

Yannik finishes with a flourish

Germany's Yannik Paul is one of the many hopefuls looking to secure the final place on Europe's Ryder Cup team with a strong showing in the final two events before the cut-off. Paul currently sits in fourth on the European Points List, with Rory McIlroy and Jon Rahm having already sealed the top two and Robert MacIntyre occupying the third automatic position. The 29-year-old carded a blemish-free 66, which included this stunning effort at the last.

Højgaard in the hunt

Nicolai Højgaard has a slim chance of making the final spot on the European Points List, but he ensured he gave himself every chance with a brilliant 65. The Dane made a rapid start on the back nine at Albatross Golf Resort as he opened up with an eagle-birdie. A hat-trick of birdies from the 18th saw the 22-year-old jump up to six under before adding another gain at the fifth. He dropped his only shot at the penultimate hole - the eighth - but bounced back with a birdie at the last. The Dane said: "It felt solid today. If I had to say anything I felt like I had a couple of misses left off the tee with my driver, which is always my bad miss. Other than that, it was a solid round tee to green. I felt like I was rolling the putter well, but a few short ones went by – that’s part of it. I’m happy with my round. It felt solid today. If I had to say anything I felt like I had a couple of misses left off the tee with my driver, which is always my bad miss. Other than that, it was a solid round tee to green. I felt like I was rolling the putter well, but a few short ones went by – that’s part of it. I’m happy with my round."