Denmark's Niklas Nørgaard and Germany's Yannik Paul shot an opening 7-under 65 for a share of the lead.
.@YannikPaul sets the pace during the opening round ✍️#VolvoScandinavianMixed
— DP World Tour (@DPWorldTour) June 8, 2023
"It was a very weird day because I had no preparation at all," said Nørgaard. "I hurt my back on Monday, so I come up here and I haven’t practised. I haven’t played the course, I just went out there with pretty much no expectations at all and it worked today.
“I was home for one day and went out water-skiing and hurt the back, I was going to fly out here Tuesday and I went to pick up my Trackman to go and fly and I couldn’t even lift it. That’s how bad it was. My girlfriend packed my suitcase and sent me away.
"I got up here and couldn’t do anything. Magically something happened and I feel totally fine now. I just haven’t done any prep at all."
Paul claimed his maiden win in the Mallorca Open last October and has finished runner-up twice since. He is currently fifth on the European Points List for the Ryder Cup.
“I’m really pleased," said Paul. "My putter got to work on the back nine. I hit it close a few times but made a lot of nice putts which always helps. I’m really pleased with my round.
“I feel like it got colder as the day got started. It was really warm on like the third and fourth hole, not too windy. But then all of a sudden it got windier and the clouds came in. So, I think it played a bit trickier on the back nine."
England's Dale Whitnell produced an eagle at the par-4 9th and stayed bogey-free to close with a 66 and a share of third place alongside an equally bogey-free Frederic Lacroix of France, South Africa's Louis de Jager and Thailand's Trichat Cheenglab.
The Volvo Car Scandinavian Mixed, co-sanctioned with the Ladies European Tour, is in its third edition this year. 78 men and 78 women are playing in the same groups for one prize fund and trophy.
Alex Noren and Linn Grant explain the format for the @scandimixed. #VolvoScandinavianMixed pic.twitter.com/otzZZr9L60
— DP World Tour (@DPWorldTour) June 8, 2023
