MG Keyser, former MENA Tour champion and Jumeirah Golf Estates-based pro, made the most of his sponsor’s invitation to the D+D Real Czech Masters after firing in a first round four under par 68 at Albatross Golf Resort, Prague, Czech Republic.
The 35 year-old, who plays the majority of his golf on the Asian Tour, came out firing from the blocks with an eagle-birdie start before picking up another shot on the sixth to make the turn in 32. The South African played his next nine holes at level par, exchanging a birdie on the tenth with a dropped shot on the 13th, to finish the day inside the top 20.
Leading the pack was Louis de Jager, who carded a course record-equalling eight under par 64. The South African, a five-time winner on his home Sunshine Tour, started his day with a birdie on the first and then made five birdies in six holes from the sixth to the 11th. The 35-year-old birdied the 15th to join Thomas Pieters at the top of the leaderboard but then posted his eighth gain of the day to take the outright lead on eight under.
Pieters made a strong start to his bid for a hat-trick of victories at Albatross Golf Resort in Prague. The Belgian won his first of six DP World Tour titles at this venue in 2015 and was victorious again in the Czech capital in 2019. The 30-year-old carded birdies on each of his opening three holes and was five under par at the turn. His back nine was bookended by bogeys as he made four consecutive birdies from the par five 12th, eventually signing for a seven under 65.
