Bernd Wiesberger won the biggest title of his career at the French Open on Sunday, producing a mid-round birdie barrage that blew apart a top-class field.
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“I played okay”, Wiesberger said after carding an opening three-under-par 68.
Two thunderstorms disrupted play for a combined 2 1/2 hours at the start of the day.
Morrison’s display secured qualification for The Open Championship later this month, with Jaco van Zyl also sealing a spot at St Andrews despite letting his overnight advantage slip. I rescued it coming in last night but it was a fast turnaround from a 9pm finish last night to an early start this morning and I just didn’t come out of the blocks this morning at all. I’ve had a lot of great success, but just couldn’t pull it quite off. To stand here with the trophy right now, it’s pretty sweet.
Five birdies in six holes from the fourth, after his early round was interrupted by a passing storm, meant Wiesberger went out in 31 and eight consecutive pars kept the chasing pack at arms’ length. But putts that shaved the hole by millimeters on the ninth and 14th holes stalled his momentum. “I feel the pressure and expectation from the crowds because I want to do well for them here more than any other tournament”.
“Bernd played too flawless today”.
Dubuisson, bidding to record the first home victory in the $3 million event since Thomas Levet in 2011, shot a one-under 70 to share the lead with Ryder Cup team mate German Martin Kaymer (69) and Spain’s Rafa Cabrera-Bello (70).
Delighted Morrison, who won the Spanish Open in May, was delighted with his performance after taking a two-shot lead into the final round in Munich last week, only to finish 11th after a closing 77.
The ex- U.S. Open champion would also become just the sixth player to claim a hat-trick of European Tour titles in the same event and battled back from three over par after 10 holes with birdies on the 15th and 17th.
Damien McGrane and Michael Hoey both will play this weekend.
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It was a disappointing day for Darren Clarke who got around in 75 on four-over, while Paul McGinley was a shot further back.
