Australia’s Min Woo Lee is two shots off the lead after coming home with four straight birdies to finish the first round of the DP World Tour’s Open de France in Paris.
The 27-year-old fired a five-under par opening round of 66 to sit in a share of second place alongside Frenchman Julien Guerrier, hot on the heels of leader Marcus Armitage of England.
Lee appears rejuvenated after a break on the Gold Coast and at home in Perth after his PGA Tour season came to an end following the first week of the FedEx Cup playoffs.
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He shot 67 and 66 across the weekend at last week’s showpiece DP World Tour event, the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth in England, to jump into a share of 11th, five shots off the playoff won by Sweden’s Alex Noren.
Lee, who is now a confirmed starter for both this summer’s Australian Open and Australian PGA, then carried that form across the English Channel.
He made seven birdies for the day, including five across the front nine, his second nine.
“A few putts didn’t drop early but I finished off with four birdies in a row which is very, very nice,” Lee said.
“It was deserving, I guess, with the shots that I was hitting.”
PARIS, FRANCE – SEPTEMBER 18: Min Woo Lee of Australia plays his second shot on the 14th hole on day one of the FedEx Open de France 2025 at Golf de Saint-Nom-la-Breteche on September 18, 2025 in Paris, France. (Photo by Stuart Franklin/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
Lee’s birdie blitz did not match the efforts of Armitage, however.
The Englishman strung together eight birdies in the space of ten holes, including six in a row, on his way to a 64.
“I was hitting it pretty close and just the putts started to drop,” Armitage said.
“I think I one-putted every green for that space of holes. Yes, that will work!”
Australians Elvis Smylie and Daniel Gale both shot 69, to sit level with LIV Golf star Brooks Koepka at two-under par.
David Micheluzzi, who shot an even par 71, and Danny List (75) are the other Australians in the field.
