Stadler Opens with 64 in France


Venturing off the PGA Tour and traveling to France for the first time, 34-year-old Kevin Stadler got off to a rousing start with a 7-under 64 in the Alstom Open de France. The European Tour event got under Thursday at Le Golf National in Paris.

Stadler, who earned his maiden PGA Tour victory in February's Waste Management Open - a win that also earned him a spot for the first time in the Masters, carded three birdies on the front nine and four more on the back for a one-stroke lead over Germany's Marcel Siem.

"It's one of my best rounds of the year for sure," Stadler told the European Tour's website. "To not make a bogey out there is something I didn't think was possible when I first played it. It's instantly one of my favorite courses ever, I thought it was spectacular from hole one to the end. They talk about the last four holes, but they are doing a discredit to the previous 14.

"I have always wanted to come over here, the guys in the U.S. tell me it's one of the best events of the year and it has not let me down. It has been fantastic."

Two strokes back is Scotland's Stephen Gallacher, while three behind Stadler are Welshman Jamie Donaldson and Chilean Felipe Aguilar.

Siem's wife gave birth to their second child last week and the 33-year-old German told the European Tour's website he's drained of energy. "I was really tired," said Siem, who won the tournament in 2012. "I can't wait to go to bed. I said that to my caddie on the third hole, I need to get my batteries loaded up."

Defending champion Graeme McDowell opened with a 70, while playing partner and reigning U.S. Open champion Martin Kaymer of Germany posted a 72.

For all the scores, visit http://www.europeantour.com/europeantour/season=2014/tournamentid=2014052/leaderboard/index.html.