This week we travel just outside of Paris for the 99th edition of the Open De France at Le Golf National. With many Ryder Cup players in the field and many others hoping to make the team when the event takes place here in 2018, who should you be adding to yourFantasy Race To Dubaiteam. Here's a handful of picks from our statistics guru.
Graeme McDowell
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The man known as G-Mac has owned this event in recent years. The two-time defending champion will look to make history this week by making it a hat-trick of Alstom Open de France wins. Should he complete the ‘three-peat’ he would become the first to do so since Marcel Dallemagne in 1938. McDowell has broken par in each of his last eight rounds at Le Golf National and has not shot over par in a single round since 2009. Whilst his form in 2015 has not been up to the Northern Irishman’s high standards (with just one top ten finish), he will welcome a return to a course he likes and one that rewards straight driving and good putting.
Francesco Molinari
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Few players have been playing as consistently throughout 2015 as Francesco Molinari. In six starts on the European Tour this season Molinari has finished in the top six on three occasions. The Italian will make his 11th Open De France appearance this week at an event where he has finished inside the top 30 eight times, including two runner up finishes in 2010 and 2012. At a tough course that demands solid ball striking from tee to green, Molinari will be a popular pick this week. On the PGA Tour this season, he ranks first in Driving Accuracy and second in Greens in Regulation.
Jamie Donaldson
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Another 2014 Ryder Cup player who has perhaps struggled to recapture the form of last year is Jamie Donaldson. Having finished the 2014 season with nine straight top 25 finishes and a memorable debut at The Ryder Cup, Donaldson has just one top ten on The European Tour this season. He has, however, finished in the top 30 in two of his last three starts and returns to Le Golf National having finished sixth and fifth there in each of the last two seasons.
Søren Kjeldsen
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Kjeldsen is enjoying a rich return to form of late. The 40 year old captured the Dubai Duty Free Irish Open title last month, ending a six year drought with a win. He then followed it up with a strong showing at the Nordea Masters, where he finished runner-up to Alex Noren. He will tee it up at the Alstom Open de France for the 17th time this week at Le Golf National, where he has six top 15 finishes and six other top 30s. The relatively short layout should favour Kjeldsen’s game, which relies mostly on a hot putter.
Maximillian Kieffer
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The young German has been one of the strongest performers on The European Tour in 2015. No one has made more appearances without a missed cut this season than Kieffer (16 tournaments). The 25 year old has finished in the top 30 in ten of his last 11 events, including top ten finishes at both the Nordea Masters and the Dubai Duty Free Irish Open. At 80 under par this season, only Byeong-hun An (-81) has scored better than Kieffer in 2015. Whilst he has not got to grips with Le Golf National in his two appearances there, few players are swinging with more confidence than Max.
Did we go enough to convince you? Head over theFantasy Race To Dubai homepageto pick your team. All changes need to be confirmed before play begins on Thursday morning.
