A TOP-CLASS field turns up at Le Golf National for the final tournament on the Albatross Course before it is closed for the Ryder Cup.
It is a world-class line-up, headed by world No.2 Justin Thomas, Jon Rahm and Tommy Fleetwood for the latest event in the Rolex Series as players get a feel of the course in preparation for the Ryder Cup.
To win here you are going to have to have good Greens in Regulation and Scramble stats.
- COURSE: Le Golf National: Albatross Course: 7247 yards, Par 71.
TYRRELL HATTON
Tyrrell Hatton has been going along nicely this season with three top-11 finishes in the WGC events, a third place in the Abu Dhabi HSBC and a T6 recently in the US Open.
Hatton is leading the Ryder Cup standings and is ninth in the Race to Dubai. He’s only played three times on the European Tour with mixed results and has been quietly going along on the American circuit with some good performances.
I was impressed with his T6 in the US Open where he stuck to his game and quietly climbed up the leaderboard on the Sunday.
- Greens In Regulation: 69.5% (89th). Scrambling: 57.6% (87th).
ALEXANDER LEVY
Levy will have to get his skates on if he wants to make the Ryder Cup team and there’s no better place than here for the Frenchman. Since he won the Trophee Hassan II in April his form has really dipped.
Having said that he’s only played four tournaments and one of those was the US Open where he missed the cut. His form in his native Open is bad, in fact it’s atrocious, with three missed cuts and nothing better than a 35th place in the other four outings.
He’s 16th in the Ryder Cup placings and a win here will certainly do his chance of playing here again in September.
Greens in Regulation: 72.5% (35th). Scrambling: 61.3% (44th).
ALEX NOREN
Another who is plying his trade over the pond is Swede Alex Noren who is doing well with two thirds and a second. I have been a fan of Noren for a couple of years and he is making the Americans sit up and take notice.
He will also be looking to impress Thomas Bjorn and get that elusive Ryder Cup spot. In his last two appearances at Le National he has finished eighth and 10th and can see him doing well here this week.
- Greens in Regulation: 68.2% (132nd). Scrambling: 55.3% (130th).
Recommended Bets
- 1.5pts ew Tyrrell Hatton (Paddy Power, 28-1) Pays 8
1.5pts ew Alexander Levy (Paddy Power, 66-1) Pays 8
2.5pts ew Alex Noren (Coral, 16-1) Pays 7
does anyone know Steve Palmer tips?
He’s on holiday.