England's Graeme Storm is in the hunt for a second Alstom French Open victory after starting with a six-under-par 65 at Le Golf National near Paris.

Back on the course where the 2018 Ryder Cup will be played, the 33-year-old from Hartlepool is tied for the lead with Australian left-hander Richard Green.

Storm's win in 2007 - from five behind with a round to go - is his only one in more than 250 European Tour starts.

"There's always added pressure when you come back,'' he said.

"People say you've won and you like the course. Don't get me wrong - it is fantastic to know you've done it - but you still have to put the work in.

"It's just another week, it's another tournament and you've got to treat it like that, but don't get me wrong, it's fantastic to always come back and know that you've won around here.''

Armed with a new driver and putter Storm did not drop a stroke and drew level when he birdied the 484-yard 17th while Green bogeyed it.

Both will be at The Open in a fortnight's time. Green earned an exemption from his 21st place on last year's European Tour money list, while Storm, now playing from Rockliffe Hall, won the qualifier at Sunningdale three weeks ago after a brilliant 62.

South African George Coetzee, like Green, reached seven under after 14, but went into the lake on the 15th and bogeyed the 17th.

That dropped the 24-year-old, joint third in Germany on Sunday, alongside Dane Thorbjorn Olesen.

Colin Montgomerie, seeking a top-five finish to earn a late spot into The Open at Sandwich after finishing last at the qualifying event, was two under with three to go, but bogeyed the seventh and three-putted the long ninth for a level-par 71.

America's world number 12 Bubba Watson, in the first regular European Tour start of his career, came to the last one over, but drove into a bunker and after laying up short of the lake three-putted for a double-bogey six and a 74.

Martin Kaymer and defending champion Miguel Angel Jimenez matched Montgomerie's 71.