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USA Today Sports Media Group
USA Today Sports Media Group
Sport
Todd Kelly

16-year-old from Ukraine, 1 shot off the lead, credits ping pong and Netflix after shooting 66 at Le Golf National

The succession of amazing golf courses hosting the DP World Tour this fall continues this week, with Le Golf National hosting the 2024 FedEx Open de France.

The historic venue has hosted the 2018 Ryder Cup and the 2024 Summer Olympics. This week, it’s the site of the oldest national open in continental Europe.

All this history hasn’t fazed 16-year-old Lev Grinberg, who shot a 5-under 66 on Thursday and is tied with four others for fourth, one shot back of a three-way tie for the lead held by Thorbjorn Olesen, Joe Dean and Jesper Svensson. Grinberg’s birdies came in bunches, as he birdied Nos. 6 through 8 and then Nos. 14 through 16.

“It’s definitely some experience,” he said. “I’ve worked really hard and I really had fun today. I stuck to my game plan. I had a very good mindset a couple of weeks before and a couple of days before going into this event.

“Playing on an Olympic golf course, playing any DP World Tour venues, it’s great, and you just play with the pros. I’m very fortunate.”

Grinberg reached the Round of 16 at the U.S. Junior Amateur before falling to Nguyen Anh Minh of Vietnam at Oakland Hills Country Club in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan, in July.

This week, he’s making sure he stays relaxed.

“I’m definitely going to have a good rest now. Do my normal routine. Play ping pong with my friends in the evening. Have a good sleep. Watch Netflix. Practice, eat and yeah, same game plan tomorrow and see what happens.”

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