The Open de France will carry a record prize fund of €3.5 million, one of the largest in Continental Europe, when Jean-Francois Remesy defends his national title at Le Golf National in Paris next week.
The growth of the event was confirmed by Patrice Clerc, President of promoters A.S.O; Georges Barbaret, President of FFGolf; Scott Kelly, Group Marketing Director of The European Tour, and the title holder Remesy, during a press conference on Tuesday.
Since 2002, prize money has grown from €2 million with the aim of breaking the €4 million mark for the centenary edition of the Open de France in 2006. This year the winner will take home €583,330.
Twelve months ago Remesy ended a 35 year wait for a home winner of the Open de France when he became the first Frenchman to lift the title since Jean Garaïalde in 1969. This year he will be aiming to become the first player to successfully defend the title since England’’s Nick Faldo in 1988/89 when he launches his defence from June 23-26.
The path set by Remesy will also inspire other French golfers, notably Ryder Cup player Thomas Levet, who will defend his Barclays Scottish Open title at Loch Lomond two weeks later.
Gregory Havret, winner of the 2001 Italian Open on The European Tour International Schedule, has enjoyed a consistent 2004 with four top tens, including second in the South African Airways Open while Raphaël Jacquelin is another to watch having also been runner-up this season in Indonesia.
Challenging the French players over the renowned Albatross Course at Le Golf National will be a world class field including Spain’’s Miguel Angel Jiménez, winner of the Omega Hong Kong Open and The Celtic Manor Wales Open this season.
Australian left-hander Richard Green, Northern Ireland’’s Graeme McDowell and Ireland’’s Paul McGinley are also sure to draw the spectators as will former champions Colin Montgomerie of Scotland and José Maria Olazábal of Spain.
