by STEVE PALMER , Racing Post

Soren Hansen takes a tee shot during the US Open at Bethpage Black last month

BRILLIANT German youngster Martin Kaymer sprinted clear of the field in the first round of the French Open yesterday, shooting a course-record-equalling nineunder-par 62 to assume a threeshot advantage.

Kaymer, who finished seventh in the event two years ago, teed off as a 30-1 chance to win the third European Tour title of his short career in Paris this week. But eight birdies and an eagle made a mockery of that quote and despite suffering from blister problems he has taken charge of the tournament.

The 24-year-old, who has already traded at a low of 3.8 on Betfair to triumph on Sunday, said he has had to cut open sections of his shoes to relieve the pain. "It's still hurting," he said. "But I will survive. I've been missing a lot of short putts lately, but now everything came together and I hope it continues."

Pre-tournament favourite Ian Poulter has a ten-shot first-round deficit to overcome after opening with a one-over-par 73, while his playing partner Padraig Harrington posted the same score.

Soren Hansen made a solid start in a tournament he enjoys, a first-round 68 giving him a platform from which to build, and the Ryder Cup man looks the pick of the second-round afternoon threeball prices at 11-8 with Ladbrokes to account for Nick Dougherty and Darren Clarke.

Dougherty, who won the match with a 66 yesterday, is favourite with the Magic Sign on the back of his triumph in Germany last week but one suspects the mental fatigue from battling with Retief Goosen, Bernhard Langer and others down the stretch in the Fatherland on Sunday will hit him at some stage this week and the birdies may dry up.

Dougherty's record at Le Golf National is mediocre - he has missed three cuts in seven visits with a best finish of 13th place in 2005 - whereas Hansen has a long-running love affair with the venue having three times finished in the top three in the last four years. He has made the top 15 on three of the other five occasions he has played in this event.

Fresh from taking a week off after finishing sixth in the US Open, the ultra-consistent Dane can be fancied to go low this afternoon at such a happy hunting ground.

Aside from signs of life in the Irish Open in the middle of May, Clarke has failed to sparkle this season and after yesterday's 73 he is struggling to make the cut.

Richard Green is a tempting 4-5 chance to outscore Simon Dyson and Scott Drummond for the second day running - the in-form Aussie left-hander carded a 68 yesterday on a course where he is proven while the Englishmen were over par.

But Dyson's second-round scores have been much better than his first in recent weeks - he went 74-65 over the first two rounds on his way to sixth spot in the Wales Open four weeks ago - so playing at a shade of odds-on is dangerous. By all means get involved but the 4-5 Green is probably the right price rather than a good price.

Recommendation S Hansen to win threeball 2pt 11-8 Ladbrokes, Victor Chandler

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