Julien Guerrier has done a ‘Matthieu Pavon’. Just like last year, a Frenchman is at the top of the leaderboard after the Thursday morning session. Guerrier signed for a 67 that has him looking down on the field after six hours of the tournament. It remains to be seen if anyone can catch him this afternoon, but the conditions are promising to be even tougher than they were for the early birds.
The Evreux native played some remarkable golf considering the wind that was whipping its way across Club de Campo. “The conditions were really tough and I managed to play very well so I’m proud that my game adapted so well on a narrow course, with small greens and so much wind”, said the Frenchman. His highlight of the day was an eagle on the 7th: “The wind was helping and I hit a great tee shot, then I hit a good nine iron and sunk a 25-foot putt. I had a bit of luck because my playing partner showed me the line”. You have to take your luck when it comes, though, and he certainly did so by pouring the putt into the middle of the hole.
The similarities between the defending champion and Guerrier do not stop there. Like Matthieu last October, his compatriot is still yet to win on the DP World Tour despite a successful career on Europe’s golf courses. 226 tournaments on the Old Continent’s premier circuit are proof of his experience, and of his need for a win. At 39 years of age he has not lost hope. Given the way he played this morning, carving out five birdies, one eagle and three bogies, nobody will argue that he doesn’t have the game for it.
On paper, Guerrier’s 67 pales in comparison to Pavon’s 63 last year, but the reality is that the former had to deal with winds that were gusting at over 25 mph. In any case, the Frenchman is enjoying the comparisons with Pavon: “Of course, I look up to him, he’s a great friend and last year he played very well here, I’m so happy for him. I don’t want to put a lot of pressure on myself, it’s Thursday morning, but of course I’d like to emulate his result”.
Club de Campo Villa de Madrid is one of his favourite playgrounds. He finished sixth here last year and third the season before. It is, without a doubt, a course that suits his game: “I admit that I’m not sure why I play so well here, but the truth is it suits me. I’m comfortable and I hope to continue like that”.
