Kieffer sets sights on season finale after strong start in Cromvoirt

Maximilian Kieffer had his eyes set firmly on qualification for the season ending DP World Tour Championship, Dubai after he carded an opening 66 on day one of the 2021 Dutch Open.

The German has enjoyed an excellent season so far, finishing twice on two occasions to sit 48th on the Race to Dubai Rankings in Partnership with Rolex.

His first round effort at Bernardus Golf left him in a share for second and while a maiden European Tour victory would guarantee his place at Jumeirah Golf Estates for the first time, the 31-year-old is first and foremost looking to maintain his strong form.

"I have my eye on the top 50 to get to Dubai," he said. "I am inside that now but I have to play good golf over the next couple of weeks, so that is definitely the goal."

Kieffer left himself a tap-in at the tenth and got up and down from the sand at the 12th but bogeyed the par three 13th after missing the green.

Another excellent approach into the 15th and a 30 footer on the 17th saw him hit back but he found water at the last to turn in 34.

I have to play good golf over the next couple of weeks, so that is definitely the goal

He then made four birdies in five holes from the third, leaving himself less than 15 feet at the third, fourth, sixth and seventh.

"I played very well," he said. "Except for one hole, I wasn’t really fighting for par and hit great shots all day, even on 18 when I made bogey. I made some putts, so everything worked well today."

Martin Simonsen was alongside Kieffer at six under after carding a bogey free round.

The Dane went out in the first group of the day and was alone at the top of the leaderboard for most of the afternoon before he was reined in and eventually passed by Irishman Niall Kearney.

He sent his tee shot a long way left on the 11th but played a brilliant recovery and holed from 28 feet before making another gain on the par five next after hitting the green in two.

The 30-year-old put an approach to four feet at the 14th and then got up and down on the par five last after laying up before holing from 12 feet on the first and hitting the green in two for a third gain of the day on a par five.

"It was really nice," he said. "It has been a while since I have shot 66 in the opening round, usually I get off to a poor start and I am having to scramble, so happy with a good start. I played well all day and drove the ball really well.

"Last year I was in contention quite a bit going into the weekend and then on Sunday I wasn’t finishing it off. It is way too early to talk about now, there is so much golf left to be played, but it would be nice to play four good days in a row."