Major Champions Martin Kaymer and Graeme McDowell have confirmed they will be part of a new chapter in the prestigious history of the HNA Open de France when they return to Le Golf National from June 29 – July 2.
The pair, both of whom are former winners of the tournament, will be in the field for the 101stedition of continental Europe’s oldest national Open, which has a new sponsor for 2017 in HNA Group, a global Fortune 500 company focused on tourism, logistics and financial services, while the tournament will also be the second event in the European Tour’s new Rolex Series.
Former World Number One Kaymer won the Open de France title in 2009, defeating Lee Westwood in a play-off to claim the third of his 11 European Tour wins to date, while McDowell has lifted the trophy on two occasions, winning in back-to-back years in 2013 and 2014.
Kaymer and McDowell, who have eight Ryder Cup appearances between them, are now looking forward to returning to Le Golf National, which will also host the 2018 contest between Europe and the United States.
It will be Kaymer’s 11th consecutive trip to the French capital Paris, and the German has six top ten finishes in his previous ten appearances.
“The Open de France is a tournament I have never missed in my career,” said the 2010 US PGA Champion and 2014 US Open winner. “I have played every single year. I like the French people, I like where we play in France.
“The golf course, Le Golf National, is up there as one of the best we have in European along with Valderrama, St Andrews and Wentworth for me. It’s not only one of the oldest tournaments on the European Tour, but they’ve had some great winners in the past and they have the Ryder Cup there in 2018 too.
“I love playing at Le Golf National and I’ve done well there in the past. I can drive there from Dusseldorf, so for me the event being part of the Rolex Series is common sense.
“Apart from Abu Dhabi, I have my best record at the Open de France. I won there once and finished five times in the top ten. I enjoy the golf course a lot. It’s a ball striking course and you need to be very brave to go for the flag. It’s just a course that requires everything from your game, and that’s what golf courses should do.”
McDowell made his first of 11 previous appearances in the tournament in 2003, and the 2010 US Open champion won the title for the first time in 2013, finishing four shots clear of South African Richard Sterne. The Northern Irishman then successfully defended his crown 12 months later, finishing a stroke clear of American Kevin Stadler and Thongchai Jaidee, the Thai who then triumphed in the centenary edition of the Open de France in 2016.
“The Open de France is always one of the best events we have in Europe, with a prestigious history, and it this year is definitely an exciting new era for the event,” said McDowell. “I’m proud to have won the title twice already and those wins certainly meant a lot to me.
“I know Sir Nick Faldo has won it three times and Seve has won it four times, so I’d love to win it again put my name up there with those guys.
“Le Golf National is a great course and with the event’s new status, it is one I’m really looking forward to playing in that exciting run we have on the European Tour leading up to The Open Championship.”
Tickets for the 2017 Open de France will be on sale soon via tickets.europeantour.com.
For hospitality, please contact the European Tour’s dedicated Hospitality Sales Team, who will be happy to answer any queries and discuss the various hospitality options, onenquiries@europeantourhospitality.comor +44 (0) 1344 840681.
