Soudal Open - Day one digest

Everything you need to know from day one in Belgium.

The biggest of birds helped Sam Jones burst ahead, the eagle landed for the Ryder Cup Captain, Jonas Blixt found his groove and the iron play was on point on day one of the Soudal Open.

Here is everything you need to know from Thursday at Rinkven International Golf Club.

Jones goes low to lead the way

Jones made a spectacular albatross en route to the lowest round of his fledgling DP World Tour career as he opened up a two-shot lead. The Kiwi arrived at Rinkven International Golf Club 168th on the Race to Dubai Rankings in Partnership with Rolex but found his form in stunning fashion, carding a 62 to get to nine under and lead the way from English duo Matthew Jordan and Andrew Wilson, Spaniard Nacho Elvira, Frenchman Romain Langasque and Dane Niklas Norgaard. Scot Connor Syme was then at six under, a shot clear of a group of seven players.

Jones' albatross makes it a pair of firsts

When Jones saw his ball hit the bottom of the cup after striking it with a three wood from 273 yards on the 17th, he recorded the first albatross of his career. It was also the first of the 2024 DP World Tour season after we had a remarkable six last campaign. "Initially it was going to be a three-shot, was going to lay it up," said Jones. "Thought about three iron off the tee, hit three wood, pulled it a little bit but hit in nicely. Got up there, had 248 metres to the flag, said to my caddie Keith that it was the perfect three wood, into the breeze a little bit. I was going well already at that stage so I thought if I made a bogey it was no big deal. Just hit it, flushed it, called to it to be good in the air and it was. First ever albatross, not a bad place to do it."

The skipper holes out

Jones was not the only one holing shots from distance - on the third Luke Donald did this from 149 yards for eagle.

Dialled in

Not everyone was holing out - but they were going pretty close.

How's your luck?

Sam Bairstow had every right to feel aggrieved after getting this break.

Blixt in the mix

Blixt had played ten events this season coming into this week and missed ten cuts with a lowest round of 70. But on Thursday he made six birdies with a single bogey to sit in a good position at five under. A three-time winner on the PGA TOUR with two top tens in Major Championships, the Swede will be one to watch if he stays on a roll.