Ugo Coussaud got a head-start on his birthday celebrations, Spanish players showed their local knowledge and a pair of playing partners traded eagles in round one of the 2025 Open de España presented by Madrid.
Here is everything you need to know from Thursday's play at Club de Campo Villa de Madrid.
Ugo starts the celebrations early
Ugo Coussaud woke up on his 33rd birthday sharing the lead after his superb 65 was only matched by England's Sam Bairstow with one of Thursday's final blows. Coussaud hit two eagles and four birdies, the last after a brilliant escape from the trees on the eighth, before Bairstow birdied four of his final five holes in near darkness. Coussaud said of the celebrations to come: "It's very nice, my family's there, so we'll have a good dinner, depending what happens. It's going to be a good day for sure." Bon anniversaire Ugo!
'Angry' Rahm produces magic moment
Jon Rahm proclaimed himself "so angry" with a one-over-par 72 - but he at least had this chip-in eagle from a bunker beside the 14th to cheer both himself and the Spanish crowd:
Angel Hidalgo - playing with Rahm again after thrillingly beating him in a Sunday showdown and play-off to win his home Open last year - went close to a hole-out of his own with this trademark flop at the ninth.
Anything you can do...
Playing partners Thorbjørn Olesen and Haotong Li shared an enjoyable moment on the 14th with matching eagles. The Dane was first to go, chipping in from the left rough:
Li, already on the green in two, followed him in with the flat stick.
Reitan keeps his cool
Kristoffer Reitan had a moment of misfortune in the 15th fairway as the ball moved when he grounded his club, leading to a one-shot penalty after a lengthy discussion with an official. The Norwegian calmly responded to hit his 84-yard approach within inches of a hugely unlikely birdie before tapping in for par.
Softly, softly
Patrick Reed showed his short-game skills at the 17th, the American having to hit his chip so gently it almost looked like a mishit to allow it to roll down into the cup - nicely done!
Round the houses
Former champion Rafa Cabrera Bello's knowledge of Club de Campo was evident on this approach to the 15th hole. Almost a slam dunk, but after bouncing towards the back of the green his ball spun back, skirted the fringe and nestled eight feet from the hole, leading to a birdie.
