Clément Sordet returns to the Galgorm Resort & Spa Northern Ireland Open presented by Modest! Golf as one of only four men to have previously lifted the trophy, and the most recent of the two former champions in this week’s field.
Two years ago, the Frenchman announced himself to the golfing world with a stunning maiden European Challenge Tour victory in only his fourth event as a professional, triumphing by one shot at Galgorm Castle in Ballymena.
He added a second title at last season’s Turkish Airlines Challenge and enjoyed his return to Northern Ireland with a top ten result last year but, by his own admission, 2017 has been disappointing so far – though maybe a return to a happy hunting ground will provide the spark the 24 year old is looking for.
“It’s great to be back,” he said. “I have good memories with the win two years ago but also from last year, when I finished tied sixth I think, so it feels like home!
“I even have a car parking space with my name on it, though I don’t actually have a car this week! But it’s a nice thing and helps make me feel welcome here again.
“I wasn’t expecting to play so poorly at the beginning of the year. I had a top ten in Turkey early on but it was tougher after that, until I had a good result at Le Vaudreuil a couple of weeks ago.
“I think the game is now back, I just need to try to be a little more consistent. It’s easy to say but it’s harder to do.”
A notable difference to this week’s tournament is the introduction of a new format, with Shootout Sunday sure to excite the large and faithful crowds.
Following a traditional halfway cut, the field will be cut again after Saturday’s third round, with only the top 24 making it through to the final day, which will be head-to-head six hole knock-out matches in a stroke play match play format – the lowest aggregate score over six holes wins.
While wary of getting too far ahead of himself, Sordet is looking forward to seeing how that final day works, and anticipates it proving a success in front of the knowledgeable Northern Irish galleries.
“It’s the same for everybody,” he said. “We’ve got to go one step at a time, make the first cut and then the second cut and then it’s a whole new tournament.
“I think it will be a lot of fun though, it’s a good new format – it’s not just match play, it’s stroke play match play, so I think that will work well.
“The set up here feels more like a European Tour event to me. It’s a great tournament, really well organised, and the course looks in good shape again.
“It depends on the weather but I think the course will stay pretty soft, and then you just have to hit the fairways, hit the greens and make some birdies – it’s like every week!”
The Road to Oman has just passed the halfway point in its 27 event season and, though Sordet currently finds himself in 65th spot in the Rankings, he is confident that the top 15, and European Tour graduation, is still a live possibility for this season.
“The last few tournaments are really big so it’s more a case of getting ready for those,” he said. “We’re halfway through the season but there are plenty of tournaments left and hopefully I’ll play well in them.
“The top 15 is definitely still the goal – I can still finish first in the Rankings, so it’s not too late, there’s a long way to go and I just need to give myself a chance going into the last few weeks, hopefully starting here.”
