Alexander Levy Leads French Invasion At BMW Masters

Aug 9, 2014; Louisville, KY, USA; PGA golfer Victor Dubuisson tees off on the first hole during the third round of the 2014 PGA Championship golf tournament at Valhalla Golf Club. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports

It’s been a great year for French Golf on the European Tour, and the French Invasion continued on Thursday morning at The BMW Masters. Alexander Levy fired an opening round seven under par 65 at the Lake Malaren Golf Club in Shanghai to kick off of the Race To Dubai playoff series. Fellow countryman, Romain Wattel is one back at six under par, and French Ryder Cup star, Victor Dubuisson is five back.

The 24 year-old Frenchman, who was born in Orange County, California, got his day started on the back nine, and started his bogey-free round with four consecutive birdies right out of the gate. He picked up another birdie at 17(his 8th) to make the turn at five under.

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He cooled down a bit on the front with only a couple of birdies at two, and nine, but with no mistakes, got in the clubhouse at seven under par.

Levy has two wins on the European Tour in 2014, and the first came at the Volvo China Open back in April when he beat Brit, Tommy Fleetwood by four strokes. He beat Nicolas Colsaerts two weeks ago at the Portugal Masters, and yet here he is again with a fine first round, and in contention as the season winds down for the year.

"“I think this country likes me,” joked the 24 year old. “For me, this golf course is pretty much the same as the one where I won in Shenzhen.“I like this type of golf course with water and the target golf. I enjoy being in China and I’m going to try my best the next few days to do the same things I did in April.”"

Levy’s close friend on the tour, Romain Wattel had nearly as good a day. Wattel made his mark on the front nine, with four birdies, and two down the stretch. He came up one birdie short in his bogey-free round, and finds himself only one back. Wattel has yet to log that first win on the European Tour, but has been knocking on the door.

The 23 year-old from Montpellier, France has one win on the Challenge tour.

Victor Dubuisson didn’t have a great day, but is in negative numbers at two under par, and with three rounds left on this shot-makers golf course, is certainly in the mix. Dubuisson won the Turkish Airlines Open last year in the third Race To Dubai playoff event in 2013.

Dubuisson came close at the Accenture Match Play Championships in Arizona last January, losing to Jason Day in extended play, and he lost in a playoff at the Nordea Masters, to Tongchai Jaidee. Scot, Ryder Cup star, Stephen Gallacher was in that playoff as well.

Alexander Levy spoke on the recent success of French golf, and the emergence of it’s young stars:

"“No French player has won a Major or something like that, but I think we have a good mix between the older generation and young generation,” Levy added. “Victor played the Ryder Cup this year and I think it showed all the French players it’s possible to play a big event like that and be in position to be in the Ryder Cup in France in 2018.“For my part I’m thinking only about that, to be in France in 2018 at Le Golf National, it’s an amazing place. I think we will have, I hope, two or three players on the Ryder Cup in 2018.“We have a good generation. Every year some French players win and new players come on The European Tour.”"

Source: EuropeanTour.com

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