Retief Goosen ignored the distractions of fatherhood to make golf look like child's play again in the final Lancome Trophy.
Goosen has yet to win a tournament so far this season and is resigned to losing his status as European number one after two years; but the South African is on track to maintain his record of at least one victory a year since 1999 after a first round 63 gave him a one-shot lead over Swede Mikael Lundberg at St Nom-la-Breteche, on the outskirts of Paris.
"I've been pretty consistent with a lot of top 10s and played well in America, but Europe has been disappointing, I've not played well enough in the big tournaments," admitted Goosen, who is 19th in the Order of Merit, more than a million pounds behind compatriot Ernie Els.
"But it's been a great year with the birth of Leo, our first child six months ago, and my mind has been somewhere else. "It takes your concentration away a bit from the golf course, all the changing nappies and sleepless nights. Travelling becomes a lot more difficult and carrying him around I get a stiff back," he stated.
Three of Goosen's eight European Tour victories have come in France including this title in 2000 and a runners-up finish the following year, but the 34th edition of the tournament will be the last.
Goosen carded eight birdies and an eagle and would have equalled the course record of 62 but for his second bogey of the day on the ninth, his final hole, when his ball span sideways off the green into a bunker.
Britain's Simon Wakefield lies in third position on six under par, with Ryder Cup hero Paul McGinley a shot further back on five under, alongside two players who recorded holes-in-one. Spain's Carlos Rodiles aced the 148-yard seventh with an eight-iron to win a Eur650 scooter, while the unfortunate Terry Price holed out from 193 yards with a four-iron on the 12th just 15 minutes later to miss out on the prize.
Padraig Harrington, another player getting used to fatherhood after the birth of his son Patrick three weeks ago, carded a three-under 68, the same score as Colin Montgomerie after the Scot bogeyed the last after finding water off the tee on the closing par three.
Joining Harrington on threre-under was Wexford's Damien McGrane, while Gary Murphy carded on par. Philip Walton was three-over for the day and carrying up the rear of the Irish contingent was Peter Lawrie on seven-over.
Lee Westwood had to settle for a one under par 70 on his return to action following his emotional victory in the BMW International Open, while Open champion Ben Curtis went one better with a 69.
PA