Day one digest: Porsche European Open

Everything you need to know from round one at Green Eagle Golf Courses.

Paul Casey will have the honour of driving away with the Leader’s Porsche after carding 66 in the opening round of the Porsche European Open.

The leader of each day will take away a car, courtesy of the event’s sponsor, in Hamburg.

The World Number 17 rolled in seven birdies and a solitary bogey in testing conditions at Green Eagle Golf Courses as he powered his way to the front at six under par.

Austrian Matthias Schwab is one shot adrift in solo second, while star rookie Robert MacIntyre, Englishman Ben Stow and home favourite Max Rottluff sit at four under par.

Here is everything you need to know about Thursday in Germany.

Schauffele treats 'home' fans

World Number Nine Xander Schauffele made his way across the Atlantic to play in Hamburg, his first on continental Europe. Schauffele’s father and coach, Stefan, is half German and his American son is looking forward to meeting up with family and friends in Berlin after the event. However, on the course, despite shooting a one over par 73, Schauffele produced a fine shot at the 17th to give the ‘home’ fans something to cheer about.

Lefty nearly lucks out at last

MacIntyre continued his superb form since graduating from the European Challenge Tour last season by finishing tied for third after the first day at the Green Eagles Golf Courses. This approach at the ninth - his last - helped him to the summit but it could have been even sweeter for the Scot.

Casey's terrific three wood

Casey made light of the windy conditions in northern Germany and this was proven with this sensational approach into the 11th hole. He could not hole his lengthy eagle putt but came away with a routine birdie at the 595 yard par five.

Reed's chip and pin

Casey’s playing partner, Patrick Reed, did not have must luck on the course as he ended his first round on two over par, despite a birdie-birdie-birdie finish. The 2018 Masters Tournament winner almost holed an eagle from deep rough at the ninth, only for the ball to rattle off the pin and bounce off the edge of the cup.

Gouveia and Long's closest to pin competition

Portugal’s Ricardo Gouveia and Germany’s Hurly Long may not be threatening the top of the leaderboard but they nearly came away with the new Porsche Taycan. The event sponsor’s first all-electric car, which was unveiled on Wednesday in Hamburg, is the prize for a hole-in-one at the 17th. And playing partners Gouveia and Long decided to have their own closest to the pin competition as both players dialled in to within three feet on the hole.