Frenchman Paul Barjon enjoyed home comforts as he fired a brilliant 65 on day one of the 2022 Cazoo Open de France.
The 30-year-old, who mainly plies his trade in America, is making just his sixth DP World Tour appearance this week, returning to France for the first time in around three years to do battle with a stellar field at Le Golf National.
Beginning his round from the tenth tee at the 2018 Ryder Cup venue, Barjon got off to a magnificent start on Thursday morning, reeling off four birdies in a row from the 12th courtesy of some brilliant putting.
He picked up another shot at the 17th but gave it straight back on the first before further gains at the third and ninth saw him set the early clubhouse target at six under par.
Rasmus Højgaard later took over at the top of the leaderboard after opening with a course-record-equalling 62.
Barjon said: “It feels great to be here. I haven’t been back in France for three or four years now so it’s been a while.
"I haven’t played this course in a lot more years than that, but it feels great - you have the home crowd and you speak French all week so it’s fun.
"There are about 25 or 30 French guys playing this week too so it’s quite enjoyable.
“I like this course, you have to drive it well off the tee and then you’ve got a lot of mid-to-long irons when the wind picks up.
"We got a very nice day weather-wise today, it was more target golf than it can be here when the greens get firm and you have to play a little bit smarter, so today you could be aggressive and get away with it."
