Four-way tie for lead at storm-hit French Open

VERSAILLES: Spain’s Rafa Cabrera-Bello made it a four-way tie for the lead in the storm-delayed first round of the French Open at Le Golf National.

Play was suspended for a second time late on Thursday due to thunderstorms with Cabrera-Bello on three-under and with just one hole left to play.

He duly parred that on his return to the course early yetserday putting him level on 68 with France’s Victor Dubuisson, Austria’s Bernd Wiesberger and Jaco Van Zyl of South Africa. all of whom had finished their rounds the previous day.

The quartet were one shot clear of a group of four players who included former world number one and French Open champion in 2009 Martin Kaymer of Germany.

Max Kieffer of Germany, who had been at four under with four holes to play when play was called off for the day, fell away by dropping three shots in the last two holes.

French number one Dubuisson was the biggest draw of the day on Thursday as players and spectators struggled with temperatures soaring into the mid-30s.

His mission is to provide a first home win since Thomas Levet in 2011 in what is France’s premier golf tournament.

“I managed to stay calm and make a really good birdie on 18.

“On this course, it can turn really bad, and what I did today was very good especially with all this pressure,” he said.

“I’m very pleased. I feel the expectation and a little bit of pressure from the crowd, because I especially want to do well for them, more than in other tournament.”

The pressure was also on Graeme McDowell as the Northern Irishman chases a rare hattrick of title wins in France following his triumphs in 2013 and last year.

The Ryder Cup star, who has struggled for form all year, completed a round of one-over 72 yesterday. — AFP