Magnus P Atlevi remains hungry for success as he prepares to get his title challenge under way at the Druh Belts presents Paris Legends Championship by Renault Z.E. at Racing Club de France La Boulie from September 19-21.
The Swede was the first player to triumph in the inaugural edition of the tournament at Le Golf National, host venue of The 2018 Ryder Cup, back in 2016, earning his maiden Staysure Tour title after a thrilling final day battle with Welsh duo Mark Mouland and Stephen Dodd and Englishman Phillip Golding.
He is eyeing entry to the winner’s circle for the first time this season following a string of impressive results, which includes successfully navigating his way through European Tour Qualifying School First Stage at The Players Club, England, and securing three top ten finishes in his last five Staysure Tour starts.
Atlevi claimed his second Staysure Tour title at the European Tour Properties Senior Classic in 2018 and would love the chance to win on the over 50s circuit once again.
“I’m one of three former champions, two of whom are in the field this week, and obviously, it would be great to get another win this week,” Atlevi said. “It’s always good fun to come back to Paris, although I didn’t quite get to grips with Golf de la Boulie when we played here last season.
“This course is quite difficult with lots of undulations and tricky slopes but I’m feeling confident about my game and hopefully I can crack the code this time around.”
For the 54-year-old, who won three European Challenge Tour titles and recorded two runner-up finishes on the European Tour during a career which has spanned over three decades, conquering the challenging Parisian layout is not his only goal over the coming months.
Despite relishing playing on the Staysure Tour, testing his game at the highest level of European golf remains a key motivation.
“A return to the European Tour is one of my biggest goals,” he said. “It keeps me motivated to stay fit and young, and to keep trying to push my game forward.
“I might not have the distance, although my driving and my swing speed remain one of my strengths, but when it comes to the rest of the game, I believe I have advantages that many of the younger players don’t necessarily have.
“You don’t know until you have done it. I missed out in a play-off at Qualifying School Second Stage last year and still have the motivation there to compete at the top level, so I will go back again this November and we will see how it goes.”
The tournament returns to Racing Club de France La Boulie for the second successive year, with a host of stars from the over 50s game set to tee it up, including defending champion Gary Orr, the current Staysure Tour Number One Phillip Price and France’s most decorated European Tour player, Thomas Levet.
Welshman Mouland and England’s David Gilford will get the first round under way at 9:00am local time, with Atlevi beginning his title bid at 10:20am from the tenth tee.
