Woosnam blows lead in French Open

Ian Woosnam, seeking his first European Tour victory in 146 starts, allowed a three-stroke lead to disappear in the closing stretch of the French Open yesterday.

Woosnam, 46, stood nine under with four holes to play at Le Golf National. But then came bogeys at the 15th, 16th and 17th. However, a par at the 470-yard last for a 69 means he shares top spot with France's Jean-Francois Remesy.

"I was bleeding out there," said the former world number one, only 109th on the European Order of Merit this season.

FRENCH OPEN: Leading first-round scores: 136 Jean-Francois Remesy (Fr) 69 67, I Woosnam 67 69. 138 R Green (Aus) 68 70. 139 DFichardt (SA) 66 73. 140 J Bickerton 73 67, D Howell 71 69. 141 M Roe 70 71, I Poulter 70 71. 142 T Immelman (SA) 74 68, P Eales 72 70, R McEvoy 72 70, T Levet (Fr) 76 66, J Van de Velde (Fr) 74 68. 143 A Forsyth 75 68, J Lomas 73 70, F Delamontagne (Fr) 75 68, C Monasterio (Arg) 70 73. 144 M Siem (Ger) 71 73, D Park 76 68, R Allenby (Aus) 76 68. 145 R-J Derksen (Neth) 75 70, M Olander (Swe) 72 73, J Hepworth 71 74, G Brand jnr 72 73, S Webster 74 71, R Russell 76 69.