French golfer Matthieu Pavon, returning to the Cognizant Classic in Palm Beach Gardens (Florida, United States) after three weeks without a tournament, is ranked 16th, three shots from the lead after the first day on Thursday.
Pavon, at the top of the North American Professional Tour (PGA) rankings after his historic victory at Torrey Pines on January 28 and an exceptional start to the season, returned a card of 67 (4 under par) with four birdies and 14 holes in the by Thursday.
Pavon took 3rd place in the Pebble Beach tournament the week following his victory and has not played again since.
He is three shots from the lead occupied by the Korean Kim Seong-hyeon and the American Chad Ramey.
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“After three weeks without playing we have to start again so it’s good to do below par today,” he declared in the mixed zone.
The iron play was average, I mainly tried to keep the ball in the right areas so as not to get into difficulty.
With a few good putts, it’s a nice round of 67.”
He has the same ranking as his compatriot Victor Perez and the world No.2, the Northern Irishman Rory McIlroy.
The third Frenchman in the running, Paul Barjon, is 121st (+1).