Matthieu Pavon is proud to be one of four Frenchmen in the Continental Europe side ahead of his first experience of match play at the Team Cup.
The 32-year-old is joined by countrymen Antoine Rozner, Romain Langasque and Julien Guerrier - a late replacement for Nicolai Højgaard due to illness - for the three-day contest this week against Great Britain & Ireland in Abu Dhabi.
A winner for the first time on the both the DP World Tour and PGA TOUR over the past 18 months, Pavon is the leading French men’s golfer as the World Number 31.
His triumph stateside at the Farmers Insurance Open last January saw him become the first French winner on the PGA TOUR since 1907 and acted as the spark for a memorable 2024 as the DP World Tour crowned three first-time winners from the country.
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While Rozner and Langasque were both already in the winner’s circle, Pavon says the trio’s involvement is recognition for the strength in depth in France.
“It's good,” he said. “French golf is getting better and better. We have a [few] of wins last year.
“We have Romaine, Antoine here with me. It will only get better, and it's great to see that everybody is improving, and we are getting one of the strongest nations in golf.”
On top of his historic triumph stateside, Pavon caught the eye on his Masters debut before finishing fifth at the U.S. Open as he reached a career-high 20th in the world.
Viewed as a strong candidate to feature under Team Europe Captain Luke Donald at the Ryder Cup in September, he arrives at Abu Dhabi Golf Resort on the back of starting his year in Hawaii last week at The Sentry, a signature event on the PGA TOUR.
After a long flight over to the United Arab Emirates capital, Pavon has relished being in a team environment as Francesco Molinari’s side look to lift the trophy they first claimed two years ago.
“We can really see like, let's say, a small picture of what can be a Ryder Cup,” he said.
“It's great to understand how like a day of a Ryder Cup is made, what you have to do, the team meetings, the preparation.
“We got some nice games today with some funny, pressure moments. It was good to be part of it, and I think it’s really helpful for what's going to come.”
Pavon is one of 13 players making their debut at the Team Cup, formerly known as the Hero Cup, this week, along with fellow DP World Tour winner Romain Langasque.
After narrowly missing out on initial selection in Molinari’s ten-man team, Langasque finished tied second at the Nedbank Golf Challenge last month to earn the final pick in the Continental Europe fold.
And after narrowly missing out on dual membership at the end of last season’s Race to Dubai, the 29-year-old is pleased his commitment to earn his way onto the team was rewarded.
“Straightaway the night I heard I wasn't picked, I told Sam [Bernard], who was my first caddie, and caddying to Francesco, that I would go to [South] Africa and I would get this last spot.
“I'm very happy that I've gotten here. And teeing off the last round [at the Alfred Dunhill Championship], in my mind was like winning the tournament.”
'It's a great opportunity'
With Nicolai Højgaard a late withdrawal from the Continental Europe fold, his misfortune provides Guerrier a chance he is eager to make the most of.
"It's a great opportunity to be fair, I'm sorry for Nico because I don't wish a bad thing to my partner and to my team," he said.
"But it's a great opportunity for me, and I really enjoy, and especially today, to be with Francesco. So it's good to do it."
