Home favourite Marcel Siem revealed how important the Porsche European Open is to him but vowed to remain relaxed after getting off to a strong start at Green Eagle Golf Courses on Thursday.
The 42-year-old has been in fine form during the 2023 campaign, winning his fifth DP World Tour title at the Hero Indian Open in February.
The German continued to impress on his return to home soil as he opened with a two-under-par 71 which featured four birdies and two bogeys.
Despite stressing what the tournament means to him, Siem insisted he will stay patient over the next three rounds.
He said: "I wish all the Germans the best. It would be very important if any German is up there, so I’m not fighting against any this week - just one up there would be great.
"It’s a very important tournament to me.
"I’m playing well at the moment. I just have to get four rounds together like I did in India and then happy days.
"I’m just going to stay calm, relaxed and wait for my chances this week."
Siem spent his first round in the company of countryman Nick Bachem - the 23-year-old who tasted his first DP World Tour victory at the Jonsson Workwear Open in March.
"We had a lot of fun, even though he had a few bad breaks," added Siem. "He’s a super guy, we were laughing a lot together and it was just nice to see him play under tournament conditions as well.
"It’s good practice for him, playing in front of the crowds. It was good, I enjoyed it."
Siem started at the tenth tee and made birdies on the 11th, 15th, 16th and third to get to four under before bogeys on the fourth and eighth dropped him back to two under.
He said: "If you would have given me that two under before the round I would have taken it.
"A little bit upset now with eight and nine, they were a bit unfortunate. I hit a great shot into eight, thought it was good but the wind changed, and on nine I had no lie and just saved par instead of making birdie.
"But looking at the scores, I’m very, very pleased."
