50/1 Jacquelin happy with fast start - (2026)

Raphael Jacquelin (50/1 – Oman Open Outright) was delighted with how he struck the ball on day one of the Oman Open after moving into a seven-way share of fourth on -4, two strokes behind outright leader Kurt Kitayama (pictured).

World number 496 Jacquelin, who celebrated his 600th appearance at the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship in January, made five birdies and just the one blemish for a four-under-par round of 68.

The Frenchman is joined on -4 by compatriots Adrien Saddier and Alexander Levy, Belgian Thomas Pieters (11/2f), Spaniard Alejandro Canizares, Zimbabwean Scott Vincent and Englishman David Horsey.

Speaking about his opening round, 44-year-old Jacquelin was impressed with his fast start to the tournament and is hoping he can deal with the expected windy conditions at Al Mouj Golf.

“It’s a great start, I was very pleased with how I hit the ball,” he told the European Tour website. “I was solid off the tees and from the fairways as well. It was a great day with only one bogey on the card and the rest was solid.

“It’s a nice track. It was pleasant this morning with not a lot of wind so we’ve been lucky. It was a nice surprise this morning teeing off early when there wasn’t much wind, but it’s going to be windy at some stage.”

American Kitayama (10/1) is leading the way on -6 after he made four birdies and an eagle to open up a one-stroke lead from Scotland’s Scott Jamieson and Japan’s Yusaku Miyazato.

Defending champion Joost Luiten (13/2) is in a four-way share of 11th on -3 alongside Irishman Gavin Moynihan, Spaniard Jorge Campillo and German Maximilian Kieffer.

Belgian Thomas Detry and Scotland’s Richie Ramsey are a further stroke off the pace on -2, with the duo heading a large group of 15 players.

Odds subject to change.