Golf: Drysdale takes off with an eagle at the French Open

LOTHIANS star David Drysdale set out today trying to move up the leaderboard following a promising start to his challenge in the French Open, writes MARTIN DEMPSTER.

The Dunbar player began the second round lying inside the top ten at Le Golf National, having opened with four-under-par 68.

Starting his first round at the tenth, Drysdale was out in 37, two-over, before starting back with a par at the first.

But, not for the first time this season, he managed to transform a round, reeling off three birdies and an eagle in the next four holes before also picking up a shot at the ninth, his last hole of the day.

While Drysdale was seven behind the leader, Germany's Martin Kaymer, it was still another good day's work from the Lothians man.

By contrast, Bathgate's Stephen Gallacher faces a fight to make the halfway cut after an opening 74, a round that included a double-bogey 6 at the 18th.

In Switzerland, Raymond Russell and Lloyd Saltman opened with rounds of 73 and 76 respectively in the Credit Suisse Challenge on the European Challenge Tour.