Open de France First-Round Leader Tips: Dave Tindall's three to back up to 70/1

Open de France weather forecast for Thursday

There may be a lack of sunshine but conditions will be good for scoring with wind speeds only 5mph in the morning and dropping to 3mph after midday.

Temperatures start in the early 60s and peak at 77 in late afternoon.

There's a two-tee start at 1 and 10 with the first groups hitting away at 07:50 local while the final three-balls go off at 14:30.

First Round Leader Bet 1: Joe Dean @ 55/156.00

Joe Dean has had a summer to remember after qualifying for the Open at the 11th hour, getting married soon after and securing his first DP World Tour victory with a home win at the British Masters.

He followed that with 41st at the Irish Open and while 56th at Wentworth last week doesn't catch the eye, Dean actually shot three rounds of 67, his result only compromised by a Saturday 74 after he sat 12th at halfway.

His starts have been particularly impressive for a while now and over his last nine events the Englishman has FRL positions of second, fourth, fifth, ninth, 16th, 17th and 19th.

The obvious addition to his appeal this week is the fact that he had a piece of the 18-hole lead on his first start at Le Golf National in 2024 thanks to a 65.

A 66 on day three adds to the belief that he can go low again.

Dean tees off from the 1st at 13:10.

First Round Leader Bet 2: Shaun Norris @ 70/171.00

While he hasn't been able to finish things off, Shaun Norris has enjoyed a burst of strong round one scoring in recent times.

In his last three events, the South African has started out with 67s at both the Irish Open and British Masters, finishing the opening lap in third and fourth place respectively.

Wind two starts back and he posted the FRL in a Sunshine Tour event back home.

Norris was also the early pacesetter in May's Catalunya Championship so that's two first-round leads in his last 12 outings.

It's his first start at Le Golf National but he's been going low early on a variety of courses so can repeat the feat here.

Norris begins his day from the 1st at 13:00.

First Round Leader Bet 3: Filippo Celli @ 70/171.00

Filippo Celli made a big impression at Wentworth last week, opening 66-64-67 to take a piece of the 54-hole lead before finishing sixth.

That was the third time in six starts he'd been in the top 10 after day one and that run includes sitting fourth following 18 holes of the Danish Golf Championship where he finished runner-up.

As with Norris, it's his first start at Le Golf National although in one of his two previous starts in France, Celli was fifth after day one in a Challenge Tour event.

The 26-year-old Italian ranked 7th for Greens In Regulation at Wentworth where he also spoke about his improved putting (22nd SGP for the week).

He's my morning starter at 08:00 from the 10th.

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