The Rolex Series returns this week as the HNA Open de France starts a three-week run of the premium series of events on the Race to Dubai, each with a minimum prize fund of $7-million.
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All eyes on Le Golf National
This year the prestigious HNA Open de France will take on even greater significance in the European Tour schedule as it becomes the final event to be held at Le Golf National’s famous Albatros Course before the 2018 Ryder Cup. With a world-class field gathering at the Paris venue for the third Rolex Series event of the year, players and fans will have the added bonus of getting a feel for the venue ahead of one of the world’s greatest sporting events, which will take place from 28-30 September.
World-class field
A stellar field will descend on Paris for continental Europe’s oldest national open this week – now in its 102nd year – with three of the world’s top 10 players set to tee it up. World No 2 Justin Thomas – who had a spell at the top of the rankings earlier this year following a tied-11th finish at The Players Championship – will make his Open de France debut. Meanwhile, World No 6 Jon Rahm and defending champion Tommy Fleetwood, who is currently ranked at No 10 in the world, will also take to the Albatros Course this week.
Form horse
He’s a man in form and now Fleetwood heads to Le Golf National with the aim of becoming the first player to successfully defend a Rolex Series title. A superb final round 66 ensured the Englishman finished last year’s HNA Open de France on 12 under par, one shot clear of Peter Uihlein, and moved to the top of the Race to Dubai Rankings presented by Rolex, where he finished the season. The 27-year-old recently made history when he shot a seven-under-par 63 to equal the record for the lowest round at a US Open and the lowest score on the final day of a Major Championship, en route to a second-place finish behind Brooks Koepka at Shinnecock Hills.
Home hopes
Host country France will be well-represented at Le Golf National, with Alexander Levy leading the home hopefuls. The last French winner of the event was Thomas Levet, who secured a one-shot victory in 2011. Levy, who secured his fifth European Tour victory when he triumphed at the Trophee Hassan II in March, will be joined by countrymen Mike Lorenzo-Vera, Gregory Bourdy, Romain Wattel, Gregory Havret, and Raphael Jacquelin. Furthermore, European Challenge Tour players Victor Perez, Robin Sciot-Siegrist and Romain Langasque will also play this week.
Seven of the best
There will also be seven Major champions in the field this week. American Thomas, the reigning US PGA Championship winner, is the most recent Major champion teeing it up in France, and he’ll be joined by 2017 Masters Tournament winner Sergio Garcia. Two-time Major champion Martin Kaymer, 2016 Masters winner Danny Willett and Trevor Immelman, who triumphed at Augusta National in 2008, will also be part of the field.
Furthermore, 2010 US Open champion Graeme McDowell and two-time Masters winner Jose Maria Olazabal will also tee it up at Le Golf National.
Credit: European Tour
