EUROPEAN

• Kaymer off to record-tying start in France

  
  

  Paris, France (Sports Network) - Martin Kaymer got off to a flying start Thursday as he fired a nine-under 62 to take a three-stroke lead after the first round of the Open de France.

  Kaymer matched the course record at Le Golf National that Eduardo Romero set in 2005.

  Peter Hanson carded a six-under 65 to share second place with 2006 winner John Bickerton, Thongchai Jaidee, Rafa Echenique and Scott Strange.

  Nick Dougherty, who won the BMW International Open last week, is tied for seventh place with Paul Waring at minus-five.

  Kaymer's round did not get off to a good start as he tripped to a bogey on the 10th.

  He reclaimed that stroke with a birdie on the 12th and followed with birdies on 13 and 14.

  The German moved to three-under with a birdie on the 17th. Around the turn, Kaymer rolled in a seven-footer for birdie on the first.

  Kaymer chipped in for eagle on the par-five third to jump to minus-six. He sank a 13-foot birdie effort on seven and came right back with a long birdie putt on the eighth.

  At the ninth, Kaymer's last, he converted a 14-footer for birdie and a share of the course record.

  Kaymer, who has been battling a blister problem on his feet, got his week off to a great start as his team posted a 16-under 55 to win the Pro-Am on Wednesday.

  "I've been missing a lot of short putts, but everything came together and I hope it continues," said Kaymer.

  "The foot's still hurting, but I will survive.

  Yesterday when I was practicing it was unbelievable pain, but now I don't worry about it." Bickerton posted three birdies on the front nine, then birdied four of the first six holes on the back nine. In that mix was a bogey on the 11th.

  "I've changed a few things in my set-up. I was getting very crouched and very lazy and hadn't even noticed myself, so it was important to address those issues," Bickerton admitted.

  "The fairways are tight here, but if you do get the ball in the right places then you can get the ball close to the hole and the greens are quite receptive." Miguel Angel Jimenez and defending champion Pablo Larrazabal are tied for ninth place at four-under-par 67. They are joined there by Robert-Jan Derksen, David Drysdale, Ricardo Gonzalez, Paul Lawrie, Jean Van de Velde, Thomas Levet, Sam Little, Francesco Molinari and Alejandro Canizares.

  07/02 14:20:27 ET