Fleetwood returns with a bump in Germany

Tommy Fleetwood's joy at finishing runner-up at the US Open last weekend came to an abrupt halt Thursday when he carded a two-over par 74 in the first round of the BMW International Open. The Englishman, who finished just one shot behind Brooks Koepka at the US Open after a sensational final round of 63 at Shinnecock Hills, had been two under par at one stage Thursday. But he then dropped five shots in as many holes including an ugly double-bogey seven. France's Sebastien Gros mastered the windy conditions at Golf Club Gut Laerchenhof to open up a one-shot lead. Gros carded a four under par 68 to lead the way from Spaniard Jorge Campillo, Scotland's Scott Jamieson, Englishman Aaron Rai and Swede Henric Sturehed. Swede Christofer Blomstrand, Chilean pair Nico Geyger and Mark Tullo, England's David Howell, Frenchman Victor Perez and local favourite Nicolai von Dellingshausen were then two shots off the lead. There was a large group at one under including defending champion Andres Romero, 2013 champion Ernie Els and three-time European Tour winner Andy Sullivan. Local favourite and 2008 champion Martin Kaymer was in the group at level par, a shot clear of Sergio Garcia. "Today was very special because the conditions were quite brutal," Gros told europeantour.com. "But it's just Thursday so no need to start thinking about anything, it's just a good round, and we'll try to take enough confidence out of this round to keep going for the rest of the week."