Robin

Roussel

The Frenchman, who opened with a bogey-free 64 on Thursday, managed through two weather delays on Friday to post 12-under 132, and is three in arrears of clubhouse leader Adam Svensson. After a five-birdie, one-bogey effort in R2, he spoke with the media afterward (link below): “Really pleased. It’s been 10 years since I’ve been to the U.S. and feels great to be here. Feels great to be playing a good course in almost great conditions. The course is in perfect shape even with that much rain. No, it feels really good to be here.” The 28-year-old, who owns one win on the Challenge Tour (in 2019), finished 180th in the Race to Dubai in 2021, and first promoted to the European (DP World) Tour in 2020 after finishing 7th in the Challenge Tour rankings in 2019.

The Frenchman, who was once ranked as high as 191st in the world, owns two wins in 133 events spread across various tours, most recently the 2019 Hauts de France - Pas de Calais Golf Open on the Challenge Tour. In 13 starts so far this season on the DP World Tour, he’s missed 10 cuts, including his last five in a row, while his best finish is a T37 six starts ago at the Soudal Open in Belgium. On seven (of 14) fairways and 12 greens in regulation, the 28-year-old lost strokes off-the-tee (-0.267) and on approach (-0.863), but gained 2.980 with the flat stick and 4.037 around-the-green, No. 1-ranked in the latter. He ticked six birdies at holes 1 (hole-out from 96'4" away), 2, 6, 7, 15 and 18, four conventionally from between nine and 22 feet, adding another hole-out par breaker at 11 for eagle-3 (from 32'8" away). See link below to post-round comments.

Roussel split just five (of 14) fairways but still managed 12 greens in regulation, leading to nine birdies which offset a pair of bogeys. The Frenchman was happy to see the softer conditions this week compared to previous stops at Leopard Creek. “The course is definitely softer than what it was when we last played here in December. The greens were soft this morning, but it’s still Leopard Creek and a very good course so I’m delighted with a 65, I had a bunch of good birdies on the back nine. I was lucky enough to have a local caddie on the bag and he read the greens pretty well. I had quality putts in that stretch and it’s thanks to him.” He will likely need to tidy up the accuracy if he wants to remain at the top of the board as the week progresses.

Back in 2015 the Frenchman thrashed a final round 62 in second stage of Q School whilst still an amateur. He didn’t earn a European Tour card at final stage, but accepted Challenge Tour playing rights and turned pro only to go 5-for-15. A consistent year on the third tier Alps Tour (fifth in the rankings) got him back to the CT and this time he wet 13-for-19 to retain his card. A victory in early 2019 on the MENA Tour (third tier) was encouraging and he maintained the pace, winning on the CT and finishing sixth in the rankings to earn graduation. In the 2020 season he opened with T14 in the Alfred Dunhill Championship, added T18 in the Oman Open, but his other three starts have reaped nothing better than missed cuts.