Yannik Paul had a share of the early lead after the first day of the ISPS Handa Championship. -AP
German Yannik Paul was in a five-way tie for the lead when play was suspended due to darkness after a fog-interrupted first day of the ISPS Handa Championship in Japan.
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The 30-year-old came close to a Ryder Cup debut last season as he recorded seven top-10s to add to a win in 2022, but he narrowly missed out, finishing fourth on the European points list.
He secured his third top-10 finish of 2024 last time out at the Hero Indian Open and brought that form to Japan, carding his lowest round since January with a 65 that left him at five under in the clubhouse alongside local favourites Tomoyo Ikemura, Taisei Shimizu and Taiki Yoshida.
Japan's Taiga Nagano was also at five under with seven holes remaining, with some players left with as many as 10 holes to play in round one after a near three-hour fog delay at the Taiheiyo Club Minori Course.
Scotland's Connor Syme was a shot off the lead after finishing his round on his first start since securing a third consecutive top 10 at the Jonsson Workwear Open on March 10.
"Delighted," Syme said after starting on the 10th and making four birdies in a row from the 18th in a bogey-free 66.
"I've not played in six weeks, tournament-wise anyway, so it was nice to come back.
"I don't think I had a bogey today, which was really pleasing, so it's a nice way to start back."
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