Levet gives France an early lead

A brilliant pitch shot by Thomas Levet gave France the early lead when golf’s annual World Cup began at Vilamoura in Portugal today.

After partner Raphael Jacquelin had birdied the 446-yard first Levet, one of seven members of last year’s Ryder Cup side competing for a first prize of nearly £400,000 (€589,000) per man, almost sank his approach to the 358-yard second.

At two under par the French pair, playing together in the event for the fifth year in a row, were one ahead of Wales, Scotland, Colombia, Paraguay, India and Mexico.

Representing the Welsh were Stephen Dodd and Bradley Dredge, Dodd making his debut and Dredge having his third partner in four years after two caps with Ian Woosnam and one with Phillip Price.

Dodd bogeyed the first, but Dredge saved them a par four by holing a three-footer and then holed from 15 feet at the second, although the pressure was off somewhat with Dodd having spun his pitch to two feet.

In the absence of Colin Montgomerie – competing in Japan this week and skipping the World Cup for the sixth successive year – the Scots had Stephen Gallacher and Scott Drummond flying the flag and Gallacher birdied the second.

The first and third rounds are fourballs and the second and final rounds the more difficult foursomes.

Most of the big guns were out later in the morning, with defending champions England – Luke Donald and David Howell rather than Donald and Paul Casey this year – in the last group with hosts Portugal.

Ireland’s Paul McGinley and Padraig Harrington, winners in America in 1997 and partners every year since, are two groups ahead of them and just behind Americans Stewart Cink and Zach Johnson.