Michael Kim moved to the top of the early leaderboard with a bogey-free 63 as he began the defence of his FedEx Open de France title at Le Golf National, while Rudy Sautron arrived for his national open after travelling from the University of Tennessee.
Kim made eight birdies in his first competitive round at the renovated venue on the outskirts of Paris. The American had won the tournament in 2025 at Golf de Saint-Nom-La-Bretèche while Le Golf National underwent extensive renovation work, and his return to the event has brought an immediate low-scoring start.
Sautron’s appearance offers a separate home-interest story during the opening day. The 21-year-old, who is from La Réunion and calls Golf Club Colorado his home club, has made the journey from US college golf to compete in France’s national open.
Kim opens title defence with bogey-free 63
The DP World Tour reported that Kim’s 63 was his first competitive round at Le Golf National. He avoided a bogey throughout the round and made eight birdies, putting him atop the early standings as the defence of his title began.
Kim had said before the tournament that certain shots over water on the back nine looked intimidating. His opening score suggested he handled those demands well, and Kim said his irons and putting were particularly strong.
The 2025 champion also said Le Golf National reminded him of courses in the United States that he enjoys playing, despite the different setting in France. He compared the layout with TPC Scottsdale, citing the need to keep the ball in play, its water hazards and his previous success there.
That comfort is relevant because the tournament has changed venue since Kim’s victory a year earlier. His previous FedEx Open de France win came at Golf de Saint-Nom-La-Bretèche, whereas this week marks his competitive introduction to Le Golf National. The opening result does not determine the tournament, but it gives the defending champion an early platform at a course he had not previously played in competition.
Kim said he felt comfortable on a layout that recalled courses he enjoys in the United States. Kim said his irons and putting were particularly strong during the opening round.
Sautron brings college experience to his national open
Sautron has travelled more than 4,000 miles from Tennessee to play in the FedEx Open de France, although his home is considerably farther away. He comes from La Réunion, the French island east of Madagascar in the Indian Ocean, and regards Golf Club Colorado, near Saint-Denis, as his home club.
According to the DP World Tour, Sautron began playing golf after visiting a course near his uncle’s house as a child. La Réunion has three golf courses, and he said playing across those venues helped shape his early development before he moved first to mainland France and then to the United States.
His college route has taken him through Cameron University in Oklahoma, the University of Nebraska and now the University of Tennessee. Sautron said he had won once at Cameron and four times at Nebraska, giving him five US college victories in total.
He has also previously played professional events on the Alps Tour and Korn Ferry Tour, according to the DP World Tour. However, he described the opportunity at Le Golf National as a major occasion and said competing on home soil brought both enjoyment and some nerves as he sought to show he could belong at the highest level.
The DP World Tour reported that Sautron had been at Tennessee for fewer than six weeks. He said he had recorded a top-two finish and sixth place there.
Sautron’s appearance adds a distinct French perspective to the tournament’s opening day: a golfer arriving from the American college system to compete in the country’s national open.