The third Rolex Series event of the season is upon us and Le Golf National, site of this year’s Ryder Cup, plays host to the HNA Open de France for the 25th time.
Situated around an hour from Paris, the course is famed for its notoriously challenging closing run of holes, including a devilish approach to the 18th, heavily guarded by water. Last year the 17th and 18th ranked as the second and first hardest holes of the week respectively, increasing the chances of a dramatic finish coming down the stretch with the trophy on the line.
There will be six previous Rolex Series winners in the field, including last year’s Open de France winner Tommy Fleetwood. American Justin Thomas is also set to tee it up on Thursday, with the World Number Two making his first Rolex Series appearance. With excitement building ahead of Thursday’s action, our stats guru has analysed the field and picked three players who could enhance your Fantasy team.
Favourite: Jon Rahm
Few men rose to the challenge of the Rolex Series events quite like Jon Rahm last year. In four appearances, Rahm won twice and recorded shares of tenth and 15th respectively. Victories at the Dubai Duty Free Irish Open hosted by the Rory Foundation and the DP World Tour Championship, Dubai fired the Spaniard up the Race to Dubai Rankings, with those wins making him the only man to win multiple Rolex Series titles. That tie for tenth came at Le Golf National and stands him in good stead in his search for a hat-trick of titles in the biggest events on the European Tour International Schedule.
Rahm posted a bogey-free final round in 2017, no mean feat around a course that demands so much. He enjoyed a strong week on the greens, finishing inside the top 16 for Putts Per Round every day. Some of his figures this season have been similarly impressive - he ranks fifth in Strokes Gained Off-the-Tee (+1.166) and seventh in Strokes Gained Tee to Green (+1.662), with a victory at the Open de España further proof that he could be one of the men to beat this week.
Form Horse: Thorbjorn Olesen
The signs suggest this could be a week to back Thorbjørn Olesen. His first victory since 2016 came earlier this month at the Italian Open, making him part of an exclusive club of Rolex Series winners. He showed real nerve and grit to hold off a late rally from home favourite Francesco Molinari to secure a fifth European Tour title and become the second most successful Danish player. He will arrive at Le Golf National with confidence and comfortable in the knowledge he has performed well here before.
Olesen has twice finished in the top three at Le Golf National, including a tie for third last year. He earned an outright runner-up spot on his debut in 2011, but had to contend with a succession of missed cuts in between. After a sumptuous 61 and a share of second on Sunday at the BMW International Open, the Dane truly arrives with form on his side.
Wild Card: Ryan Fox
It’s safe to say Ryan Fox knows how to turn it on in Rolex Series tournaments. A run of three consecutive top sixes in the marquee events last year helped the New Zealander to climb the rankings and he added to his strong performances on the big stage with a share of eighth at the recent Italian Open. His debut performance at the Open de France last season will encourage him in pursuit of a first tour win.
Fox’s prodigious length has helped him to strong positions in several key categories this season, including 11th in Strokes Gained: Tee to Green (+1.527), 18th in Strokes Gained: Off the Tee (+0.793) and 13th in Driving Distance (314 yards). It was at this point last season when Fox really stepped up to secure his card in his rookie season. For a man who seems to rise to the big occasion, this week promises plenty for the Auckland-native.
Those are our three picks, now it's time to make yours. Pick your seven-man Daily Fantasy team for each round of this week's event and play in either free or money games. Click here to get started.. Good luck!
