Benjamin Hébert hopes fond memories will hold him in good stead for the Blot Open de Bretagne, taking place from June 22-25.
The Frenchman won the event in 2014, one of two victories that year which saw him graduate from the European Challenge Tour to the DP World Tour, having finished second in the season-long Rankings.
However, he returns to Golf Bluegreen de Pléneuf Val André nine years after that victory a different golfer. More experience through his exploits on the DP World Tour, where he finished 16th on the 2019 Race to Dubai, but now building his way back up after an injury hit 2022 where he lost his playing privileges.
“It’s always nice playing on home soil, especially here,” he said. “I have good memories here. I’ve played it four times and the last time I played it I won, so it feels very good to come back here.
“It was my second win of the year after my win in Norway in August. Back then we played this tournament in September, and I was placed inside the top five in the Rankings, and I knew a good result would confirm my card on the DP World Tour for the following year.
“I’m playing better this year but missing a little bit of consistency. Last year I had a huge injury when I broke my wrist and didn’t play for four months. After that I came back on Tour, but I was struggling with my wrist and feeling quite a bit of pain, which was scary to think I had another injury and that was difficult to manage.
“I hope that I’ll be back on the DP World Tour at some stage and get a win because I’m still looking for a win on Tour. I’ve had three second place finishes during the eight years I played continuously on Tour.
“I had a very nice year in 2019 but after Covid and the break in the season it didn’t help me with my game. I was top 20 on the Race to Dubai and inside the top 100 in the world. I felt good and I’d improved a lot of things in my game and my preparation, but Covid happened, and it stopped my momentum.”
Hebert will tee off alongside last week’s winner Lorenzo Scalise and young French amateur Martin Couvra at 1:30pm local time from the tenth tee. Meanwhile, Road to Mallorca Rankings leader Ugo Coussaud is back in Challenge Tour action for the first time in a month and tees off the group before Hebert.
The opening round begins at 7:50am with Clement Guichard of France hitting the first tee shot.
