Michael Kim began his defence of the FedEx Open de France with an impressive eight-under-par 63 at Le Golf National in Paris. The American golfer recorded eight birdies without any bogeys, establishing a two-stroke lead over a tightly packed chase group.

Among those trailing Kim by two strokes were seven players, including English golfers Matt Fitzpatrick and Sam Bairstow. South African Thriston Lawrence also featured in the group after a standout moment on the ninth hole, where he chipped in for an eagle.

Tommy Fleetwood, playing at the venue of his notable 2018 Ryder Cup performances, showed promise during his back nine. He holed a 34-foot putt for birdie on the 13th hole, contributing to a solid round. However, Fleetwood's momentum was disrupted on the final hole when his ball found the water, resulting in a penalty and bogey. He finished with a two-under 69.

As the tournament gets underway, Kim’s flawless opening round positions him well to retain his title at one of the European Tour’s key events.