The Bullseye – Open de France

The Albatross Course at Le Golf National is the host of the 101^st edition of the Open de France, and is the 2018 Ryder Cup site. Because of upcoming Ryder Cup, most of Europe’s top players are here, including Tommy Fleetwood, Jon Rahm, Sergio Garcia, Alex Noren, Rafa Cabrera-Bello, Martin Kaymer, Matt Fitzpatrick, Tyrrell Hatton, Andy Sullivan, Thomas Pieters, and Lee Westwood. We also get Justin Thomas who is checking out the venue for the first time, but I’ll stay away since he doesn’t have a lot of success playing in Europe. The course has undergone some minor upgrades recently, and word is, the course is playing long and tough. It’s not a links-style course per se, but usually plays fast and firm. It’s a 7,249 yard par-71 course, with water looming throughout the finishing holes which is bound to produce drama. Holes 15, 16, and 18 specifically feature a ton of water, and you’ll see many big numbers carded this week as the pressure mounts late in players’ rounds. The event has been hosted here basically every year since 1991, so there’s plenty of course history to find.  I’m going to key in on ball-strikers again, but also take a look at driving distance, since players have said the course is playing very long.

Because this is a ball-striker’s course, I’m going to focus on approach shots. You can factor in scrambling and greens in regulation a bit as well, because keeping the ball in play and avoiding bogeys will be key this week at Le Golf National. With the addition of European Tour strokes gained stats, we have some extra data to help us find guys who have been playing well of late. Statistically, here’s what I’m targeting at the Open de France:

• Strokes Gained Tee-to-Green
• Strokes Gained Approach
• Greens in Regulation
• Strokes Gained Off-the-Tee

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