Max Kieffer shot 69 to tie for first place after opening day alongside Sweden’s Simon Forsstrom; England’s Jordan Smith shared third place on three-under par with Joost Luiten and Marcus Helligkilde; watch day two of Porsche European Open from midday on Friday on Sky Sports Golf
Last Updated: 01/06/23 7:23pm
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player
Highlights from day one of the Porsche European Open in Hamburg, Germany
Highlights from day one of the Porsche European Open in Hamburg, Germany
Germany’s Max Kieffer delighted the partisan crowd in Hamburg as he moved into the lead alongside Sweden’s Simon Forsstrom after a testing opening day at the Porsche European Open.
Kieffer fired an eagle and four birdies in an opening four-under-par 69 on a windswept day in Hamburg, as the 7,455-yard course lived up to its nickname of the “Green Monster”.
The 32-year-old produced a brilliant burst of scoring on the front nine, holing from 54 feet for birdie on the third, 50 feet for eagle on the fourth and recovering from a bogey on the next by chipping in for birdie on the sixth.
“It’s been a great day,” Kieffer said. “The front nine I holed two very long putts and one chip in which really got the round going. It was a great kickstart to the round.
Max Kieffer excelled in the windy conditions
“The back nine was a bit more scoreable actually because most of the holes are downwind and you have the four par fives.
“I actually played quite well on the back nine but didn’t hole the putts so I left a few out there, but overall quite happy. I missed putts on 12, 13, 14, 15 and 16 so to finally drop one on 17 was a nice bonus.”
Kieffer’s score was matched by the in-form Swede Forsstrom, who won his maiden DP World Tour title in the Soudal Open three weeks ago and carded five birdies and a solitary bogey.
England’s Jordan Smith shared third place on three under with Joost Luiten of the Netherlands and Denmark’s Marcus Helligkilde, with Scotland’s Ewen Ferguson and England’s Paul Waring part of the group another stroke back.
Former champion Richard McEvoy, who is making his 400th appearance on the DP World Tour this week, holed out from 139 yards for an eagle on the 16th in his opening 75.
Watch day two of the Porsche European Open from midday on Friday on Sky Sports Golf.
Get the best prices and book a round at one of 1,700 courses across the UK & Ireland