Michael Kim Opens With 63 to Lead FedEx Open de France by Two

• Michael Kim shot a bogey-free 63 to reach 8-under and lead by two strokes.
• Seven players, including Matt Fitzpatrick, share second place on 6-under.
• Adrien Saddier holed out for eagle on his final hole to finish 4-under.

Defending champion Michael Kim opened the FedEx Open de France with a bogey-free 63, earning a two-shot lead after his first competitive round at Le Golf National.

Kim collected eight birdies around the renovated Albatros course to reach 8-under. The American leads seven players on 6-under, including Ryder Cup player Matt Fitzpatrick and multiple DP World Tour winners Kristoffer Reitan, Matteo Manassero and Thriston Lawrence.

The 33-year-old secured his maiden DP World Tour title in this event 12 months ago, when it was staged at Golf de Saint-Nom-La-Bretèche while Le Golf National underwent extensive work.

Kim finds familiar ground near Paris

Starting on the back nine, Kim made consecutive birdies at the 11th and 12th before picking up further shots at the 14th and 15th. He turned in 31, birdied the 1st and then gained shots at the 5th, 6th and par-5 9th.

“Just a dream start,” Kim said. “All parts of my game were really good, especially my irons and my putting.

“I couldn’t have asked for a better start.”

Kim had described several water shots on the back nine as intimidating before the tournament. After completing the round without a dropped shot, he compared the demands of Le Golf National with TPC Scottsdale, where he finished second in the 2025 WM Phoenix Open.

“This course reminds me of some of the courses I really enjoy playing back home,” Kim said. “Weirdly enough, it reminds me a lot of TPC Scottsdale. It’s totally different surroundings, but, you know, you still have to keep the ball in play, there’s lots of water hazards, and I’ve had plenty of success there.”

Kim has produced two low rounds in the space of two months. In July, he shot a historic 59 at the 3M Open, making 12 birdies and taking only 21 putts at TPC Twin Cities.

Fitzpatrick joins seven-way tie for second

Fitzpatrick marked his first FedEx Open de France appearance since 2018 with a bogey-free 65. The Englishman described his round as “relatively stress-free” despite the Albatros course’s water hazards and demanding approach shots.

“Great start to the week,” Fitzpatrick said. “And relatively stress-free, which is always nice, particularly around this golf course.”

Reitan, Manassero and Lawrence also reached 6-under, alongside Jason Scrivener, Sam Bairstow and Gregorio De Leo. De Leo made the fastest start of that group with a birdie-eagle-birdie-birdie sequence across his opening four holes.

French pair Matthieu Pavon and Julien Guerrier share ninth place on 5-under with Edoardo Molinari, Brandon Stone, Anthony Quayle, Yanhan Zhou and Jeff Winther.

Adrien Saddier holed a seven-iron for eagle on his final hole, moving to 4-under with his four-year-old son beside the green.

“It’s just a nice feeling,” Saddier said. “Just a good moment.”

Related: FedEx Open de France Opens Qualifying Route to The 155th Open at St Andrews

One non-exempt player at Le Golf National will secure a place in the 2027 Open, with the world ranking available to settle qualifying ties.

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