The European tour reaches Paris, France and Le Golf Nacional course for The French Open, the oldest event on mainland Europe and also one with a very large purse. The event starts in very hot conditions with hardly a breath of wind.
Angel Cabrera's Son
Germany’s Martin Kaymer makes a bright start culminating with an eagle out of the rough on the twelfth to get to -6. Angel Cabrera’s son, Frederico, is threatening to show up his father at -3 after eight holes. Kaymer finishes equalling the course record with a nine under 62. John Bickerton, Thongchai Jaidee, Rafa Echenique and Scott Strange all shoot 65’s.
In the afternoon group John Daly seems to implode and is playing rushed golf. He later withdraws with a bad back and in clear discomfort from the immense heat. Lee Westwood makes an excellent 68 and Spain’s Pablo Larrazabal makes five birdies in the final six holes after an eight on the ninth to finish on -4 after a 67.
Englishman Steve Webster and South African Charl Schwartzel reach -8 on day two and Rafa Echenique is showing no hangover in his quality of golf after last week’s turbo charged finish. Martin Kaymer consolidates today with a +1 round of 72. Conditions are tougher, it is not as hot and there is some breeze. This is making the cut mark fluctuate between +1 and -1. Echenique ends the day leading on -10, two ahead of Kaymer. Sweden’s Peter Hanson and Australian Richard Green are on -7.
Ryder Cup Course 2018
Ian Poulter comes into the frame on moving day with a 66 and Martin Kaymer produces another solid round to finish at -10 alongside Peter Hanson behind the leader, Argentinean Rafa Echenique. Lee Westwood and Charl Schwarzel are bubbling under at -8. The course is playing a little tougher and the final four holes make for an exciting finale and are one of the reasons this is being touted as a possible Ryder Cup course for 2018.
Both Danes Soren Hansen and Anders Hansen are making strides on the final day, -7 and -5 respectively. Kaymer starts well with two birdies to join leader Echenique on -12. They both drop a shot on seven as Ian Poulter charges into the top five. Kaymer makes amends with a 70 foot putt for birdie on eight. Westwood joins Kaymer after a birdie on eleven and then another on twelve which Kaymer matches to leave them fighting it out at -13.Echenique is dropping back and finds water twice on fifteen.
Ian Poulter Disgusted with Cameraman
Poulter, in full charge mode, becomes disgusted with a cameraman who clicked as he was on his backswing, causing Poulter to fire into the water on fifteen. Westwood holes a tough 10 footer on seventeen and hit’s a marvellous drive on eighteen which he eventually pars to finish on -13. Kaymer misses good birdie chances at sixteen and seventeen and needs a par at eighteen to force a play-off with Westwood. He makes par without any problems.
The play-off is a little bit of an anti-climax as both players hit poor drives and approaches. The difference is Kaymer’s just clears the water whilst Westwood’s lands in it. It is enough to give Martin Kaymer The French Open title.
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