European Tour

Porsche European Open 2018

July 26-29

Green Eagle Golf Courses, Winsen, Germany

€2,000,000

July 26-29

Green Eagle Golf Courses, Winsen, Germany

€2,000,000

Round 1

DeChambeau hot in Hamburg

Round 2

Round 3

Round 4

Round 2

Round 3

Round 4

July 26, 2018

Bryson DeChambeau carded his best European Tour round in over two years as the American lit up a scorching Green Eagle Golf Courses to take the first round lead at the Porsche European Open.

- Getty Images

“On 16, I hit driver and three wood up by the green and hit a nice little chip shot which I thought was perfect but it ended up 15 feet short. So I was not used to that from last week, but I just had to calibrate for the rest of the round."

“Other than that the greens are a little bit softer, more receptive on certain slopes and that through me off a little bit."

“It's been great this week, I love it here. The food's fantastic, the people are great and the golf course is beautiful. We had a good time out there and I can't thank everybody enough for supporting me out here – I've had a lot of support and I'm very appreciative of it."

The 25 year old, famed for his unorthodox method of playing with a full set of irons all of the exact same length, carded a six under par 66 in Hamburg to take a one-stroke lead into the second day. On his Porsche European Open debut, he birdied all but one of the five challenging par fives, including one at the ninth – his last hole – in a round which included just one blemish.

“I was missing in the right places today. I didn't have my best stuff. I didn't have my A-game but I was able to miss it in the proper shots and leave myself some easy shots, so when I missed the green I could get it up and down."

“I think the course will change because of the heat and the weather and we'll have to adapt over the next couple of days with the course. If I can do that and make some good putts I'll be right there at the end of the week.”

One shot back from DeChambeau were French trio Mike Lorenzo-Vera, Joël Stalter and Romain Wattel as well as Hamburg native Benedict Staben, who calls this week's venue his home course.

“I was kind of expecting those four finishing birdies in a row, to be honest. I was striking the irons really well today so I had plenty of chances and some good putts that I didn't hole so it's nice that they came in the end," said Lorenzo-Vera.

“I haven't been too hot on the greens for the first 13 holes but my long game was really good so it could have been lower but I'll take that."

“I don't struggle in heat so I don't mind it, really. My caddie was struggling much more than me! It's been a month and half since I have started well at a tournament, so it's really nice to start five under.”

A pair of promising young amateurs, Norway's Victor Hovland - currently World Amateur Number Four – and reigning European Amateur Champion Nicolai Højgaard, made a big impression as they opened with four and three under par rounds respectively.

The Masters Champion Patrick Reed, meanwhile, finished with back-to-back birdies to card a two under 70 while this week's defending champion Jordan Smith signed for a 71.

“With how the day was going – hitting only three fairways and nice greens – I needed something towards the end and to not really hit a good iron shot on 17 but to make a long putt on 17 and cap it off to finally birdie a par five on 18, gives me a lot of momentum going into tomorrow," dsaid Reed.

“With how poorly I hit the ball today, shooting under par was a good day, so hopefully we just build off of that finish and rest the swing a little bit and I should be good to go for tomorrow."