FRENCH OPEN - SELECTIONS AND COURSE NOTES BELOW MODEL.

COURSE NOTES

Hard to believe we aren’t at Le Golf for the Open de France this week, but it’s #NationalOpenSzn none the less. The track this year is Golf de Saint-Nom-la-Bretèche (I copy and pasted that because there was no chance I was spelling it correctly) and it looks uninspiring.

The course is expected to be playing under 7,000 yards and it’s your classic parkland course we see on the DP. I’d compare it to the BMW International Open venue in Germany. There are tress, there are doglegs, and there are going to be a ton of short iron shots. It’s about getting the ball in play from the tee (less than driver definitely possible) and then attacking all week long with the short irons. I’d also expect the flatstick to be a serious part of the story in conditions like this.

We have talked about the top heavy fields over the last month, but that finally comes to an end here. The “big names” aren’t quite as big and at a pitch and putt venue like this I think we’re much more likely to see one of the random DP outcomes we know and love. There is certainly the path for a random spike putting winner so some shots down the board make sense, but overall positional merchants are the name of the game this week.

OUTRIGHT SELECTIONS

Each week 1 point (minus any pre-tournament WDs) will be risked to win the amount defined.

Vincent (+18.1 Point YTD; this week is to win +18.4 points)

Victor Perez (+3500)

The Frenchman brings elite approach play (5th) and strong putting (15th) playing his home national open. His ball-striking precision is exactly what this short parkland course rewards.

Daniel Brown (+5000)

Well-rounded positional merchant with strong approach play (13th), decent accuracy (31st), and solid putting (27th). Multiple ways to score at a venue favoring precision.

Richie Ramsay (+25000)

My top value play. Elite putting (10th), solid approach play (26th), and good accuracy (21st) create the perfect positional merchant profile. At 250/1, he's massively undervalued for someone who fits the course requirements so precisely.

Adam (+1.6 Point YTD; this week is to win +15.7 points)

Dan Brown +5000

My favorite comp this week is the BMW International which he won going away a couple of months ago. As we know, when he has it slotted he is the most accurate driver in the world and this is a fair number to see if he has it slotted this week.

Marty Couvra +5000

Nice to see young Marty gaining across the board in a quality T13 last week at the PGA and he comes here looking to add to his Amateur French Open crown. The iron play is among the best in the field and with the driver devalued his upside is as high as anyone in the field.

Kazuma Kobori +9000

Has played great on positional tracks this year including a couple of weeks ago at the Belfry. Also was in the mix at the BMW International and looks like he is ready to breakout. A good number to see if he can do it here.

Adrien Otaegui +17500

Tough year for the consistent winner on the DP, but showing signs of late including a strong iron play effort last week in a T13 finish. A classic positional player who historically is always live in events like these and the form is trending once again.

Pablo Larrazabal +25000

Signs of life last week. Putter warming up. Driver devalued. Have to ride.

Matt (-13.1 Point YTD; this week is to win +14.2 points)

Although we are not at the beautiful Le Golf Nacional, we are going to see similar questions asked at Golf de Saint Nom La Batehe. This tree lined design has many dog legs and will ask players to hit into the correct spots of these contoured greens. This week, I am looking for accuracy off the tee paired with trending iron play. 

John Parry +3800

Your flusher's favorite flusher has parlayed some nice golf since he was paired with Bryson at Royal Portrush. The putter is holding him back but he is gaining strokes off the tee and on approach at a high rate, and lapping the field in terms of accuracy off the tee. 

Keita Nakajima +4900

Two straight bad weeks on Keita but he is a perennial mixer on a positional track. He has the rare ability to play below his average for a period of time then pop for a two week back to back mix. I am banking on that and I love backing him around this number.

Ewen Ferguson +4900

Anytime positional golf is in question, Ewen is my guy. He has a T2 at the Soudal Open, T4 at the KLM Open, and a T5 just last week at the BMW PGA Championship. All courses where hitting your spots is key, and he is in great form coming in.