Perez maintains fine form in Hamburg

Victor Perez is keen to keep his foot on the gas after following up last week's victory with a strong opening round at the 2022 Porsche European Open.

The Frenchman defied the odds to beat Ryan Fox on the fourth hole of a sudden-death play-off and win the Dutch Open at Bernardus Golf on Sunday.

And the 29-year-old's fine form continued in Germany as he carded five birdies and two bogeys in a first-round 69 to sit two shots off the lead held by Li Haotong and Joakim Lagergren.

Perez reflected on last week's success - his second visit to the DP World Tour winner's circle - and hopes it can act as a springboard ahead of the rest of the season.

"I think every day it feels crazier," he said.

"On Sunday I was exhausted, on Monday you think ‘that was incredible’ and then on Tuesday I was like ‘I can’t believe I did this’.

"I was more than happy to get a win and a great springboard for the summer.”

Early starter Perez stressed the importance of finding the fairway at this week's host course.

He said: "It’s about just driving the ball on the fairway and giving yourself as many chances.

"Those par fives, you used to think they were birdie holes for sure. But they are definitely not here. You have to hit sometimes two great shots to give yourself a wedge.

"You have to plot along. It’s a different mentality with that being said."