BlogFrench Open Preview and Picks

The Buzz:

Hard to believe that we are 15 months away from the Ryder Cup which will be played on the same course that is holding this week’s French Open, Le Golf National.  This week’s tournament is the second of the Rolex Series which allows anyone in the top-50 of the world rankings an invite to play.  Even if you live in America and not a member of the European Tour, if your in the top-50 of the world rankings you can play.  It’s a perfect way to get a glimpse at this course under tournament conditions.  Now it’s not strange that of the 24 American’s in the top-50 of the world rankings nobody flew over.  But what is really strange is those European members that are taking the week off.  Sergio Garcia, Rory McIlroy, Justin Rose and Henrik Stenson took a pass.  We realize in the next three weeks the Irish Open, Scottish Open and British Open would be played, but it’s hard to believe that so many marquee names won’t play this event.

Still the good news that the field is not bad, gosh they even got Jon Rahm, who may be from Spain but will be making his first ever start in a true European Tour event.  The European Tour is loaded with young stars like Alex Noren, Francesco Molinari, Alex Levy, Tyrrell Hatton, Tommy Fleetwood, Chris Wood and Thomas Pieters who all have a very good chance of making the team.  So for them this is a good week to show European Ryder Cup captain Thomas Bjorn that hey, I can play great at Le Golf National and should be a part of the team next year.  A lot could happen, but a great performance this week could pay big time next year.

Course information:

• Le Golf National
• Versailles, France
• 7,247 yards     Par 36-35–71
• Le Golf National’s Albatros course will host the tournament for the 25th time, though having undergone extensive remodelling since last year’s event in preparation for hosting the 2018 Ryder Cup. Designed by Hubert Chesnau and opened in 1990, it measures 7,249 yards. Eduardo Romero (2005) established a new course record, which was matched by Kaymer on his way to victory in 2009, of 62 (-9).
• The course, is on the outskirts of Paris on the land surrounding the Palace of Versailles, once the home of Louis XIV. It is a public, inland-links/target-style course that is regularly ranked among the top five in Continental Europe.  The course is dotted with links-style bunkers guarding vast fairways. But there are also water hazards that are commonplace on American-style courses. The players love it, and it will be a perfect risk-reward venue for Ryder Cup match-play drama.
• The course has undergone some significant changes since last year, in preparation for 2018 so for a lot of players they will have to learn new ways of playing the course.

Here are some of the secrets of what it takes to play well at the French Open:

Key stat for the winner:

The Albatross course was built on flat farmland and manages to combine a links feel with American style target golf. The course has wide undulating fairways, with links style bunkering, water hazards and with artificially created sand dunes it offers a tough test of golf.  At the same time long hitters have an advantage and it’s a course that can be overpowered.  But in looking at the stats of the past seven winners have one trait and that is putting.  Those that putt well have won which shows that good putters will have a good week.

Here are some more key stats to look to for this week:

The average Driving Accuracy ranking for the last 13 winners is 22.7, so accuracy is more important than power off the tee but it’s not been the be all and end all stat either.  Last year winner Thongchai Jaidee ranked T-22nd in fairways hit so you can see off the tee accuracy is important. Length is obviously not an issue so that opens things up quite a bit. Look for the winner to be someone who doesn’t like to muscle up with the driver, and just settle for using a long iron for control. Look at some of the past winners of the event they haven’t over power the course so looking for accuracy over length.

Water hazards come into play on 8 holes, and wind is often a factor on this relatively flat course.

Weather looks like it will be a factor all week, it will be hard to practice on the course which has experienced rain on over the weekend and on Wednesday.  Look for drizzle most of Thursday, Friday and Saturday, with thunderstorms on Friday.  Sunday is a bit better but rain will play a factor everyday of the championship.

So the course will play soft and the players will be able to attack the greens.