Intro:

Kevin Stadler of the USA heads the leaderboard on the first day of the Open de France at Le Golf National in Paris on Thursday.

Script:

The sun was shining for the first round of the Open de France at Le Golf National in Paris on Thursday.

Recently-crowned US Open champion Martin Kaymer had a bad start to the day, with a double bogey on the first followed by a bogey on the second.

He worked hard from then on though and finished the day with a one-over-par 72.

This tee-shot on the par three 16th setting up an eventual birdie.

Defending Champion Graeme McDowell had a steady start to the tournament. He finished one under for the day with two bogeys and three birdies.

And much like Kaymer, his tee shot at the 16th also setting up one of his birdies.

Scotland's Stephen Gallacher finished the day in third, carding an opening round of five-under-par.

This his shot of the day on the par four 5th. Gallacher rolled in the putt for birdie after his incredible approach.

Marcel Siem went one better than the Scotsman shooting a six-under 65.

Siem's second shot at the par four 6th set up a run of 3 straight birdies.

However, the German had two blemishes on his card, two bogeys at the 2nd and the 18th, along with his 8 birdies.

The overnight leader though had a bogey free round. A seven-under-par 64.

The USA's Kevin Stadler, on his first time out at Le Golf National, took full advantage of the perfect scoring conditions.

And he'll be hoping for more of the same as the Open de France continues on Friday.