One of the oldest tournaments in Continental Europe – the Alstom Open de France – once again takes place this year at Le Golf National outside Paris.
Twelve months ago, Germany’s Martin Kaymer confirmed his reputation as one of European golf’s most exciting young talents with his triumph which illustrated perfectly how to bookend a golf tournament. The German began the week in scintillating fashion, equalling the course record with a nine under par 62, and ended it equally as impressively, needing only one hole of a sudden-death play-off to see off the challenge of England’s Lee Westwood. Kaymer slipped out of pole position after his first round heroics but did enough to book a spot in the final group on the last day alongside Rafa Echenique.
As the Argentine slipped back, Westwood set the target with a 65 for 13 under par total of 271, an aggregate subsequently matched by Kaymer’s 68. On their return to the 18th hole, the Englishman’s good fortune ran out as his approach shot found the water hazard from where he pitched out but missed his putt for bogey five. It left Kaymer with two putts for the title but he finished with a flourish, requiring only one.
