Could the DP World Tour see back-to-back wins from Americans?
Four days after J.J. Spaun stunned in his debut at Wentworth, 2025 Open de France champ Michael Kim submitted a compelling title defense during his first round at Le Golf National.
Kim posted a bogey-free 63 with four birdies on both his front and back nines.
“All parts of my game were really good — especially my irons and my putting, and I couldn’t have asked for a better start,” said Kim.
“This course reminds me of the courses I enjoy playing back home,” added Kim, who identified TPC Scottsdale as a course he feels comfortable at and where he has found some success. “It’s slightly different surroundings, but you have to keep the ball in play and avoid the water hazards.”
Kim said he was able to shake off some rust last week playing at the PGA Tour’s inaugural Biltmore Championship, where he finished T-24.
Other than that, the 33-year-old Kim credited the local food and wine in Saint-Quenten-en-Yvelines, France.
“I might have to start looking for a place here, maybe,” he joked.
Maybe I need to drink French wine more often 🤔😊 https://t.co/BkAhHrhxlB
— Michael S. Kim (@Mike_kim714) September 24, 2026
Kim sits with a two-shot lead over seven players who got in at 65 on Thursday. Among the notables sitting at T-2 are Matthew Fitzpatrick and Kristoffer Reitan, both of whom have found the winner’s circle on either side of the pond over the last calendar year.
Fitzpatrick, who last played the tournament eight years ago, was also bogey-free across the first 18 holes.
“My game is very different from then to now so I think that comes with higher confidence, higher expectations — you’ve just got to try and manage that,” said Fitzpatrick.
The Open de France has a $3.75 million purse, with the winner taking home $625,000, and the top finisher not already exempt Sunday earns a spot in the 2027 Open Championship at St Andrews.
Spaun, who was snubbed from the U.S. Presidents Cup team, is not in the field this week. Neither is fellow American and Race to Dubai leader Patrick Reed, who withdrew from the BMW PGA Championship midway through Friday’s second round.
One American who is playing for the second straight week is Ryan Gerard. Also left off Brandt Snedeker’s team at Medinah, Gerard has been overseas since his solo-third finish at the Tour Championship at East Lake last month.
Gerard, who is playing to secure DP World Tour membership, also held the lead after 36 holes at Wentworth last week.
He is four back of Kim’s lead, sitting T-16 with 13 other players at Le Golf National — the host of the 2018 Ryder Cup and the Olympics in 2024.
Golf Channel has live second-round coverage from 7:30-11 a.m. ET on Friday. Fans can continue watching on the Golf Channel mobile app until its conclusion.
