Matthieu Pavon says Olympic gold in France would rank higher than Major glory  

By Mathieu Wood

Matthieu Pavon says the pride he is feeling as a Frenchman set to compete at a home Olympic Games means winning a gold medal would rank higher than winning a Major Championship.

After attending the Olympic Ceremony and watching on as compatriots won medals across other sports over the opening three days, Pavon’s appreciation of golf’s participation on the Olympic programme has only grown.

France sit second in the medal table at the time of writing and, with near sell-out crowds expected at the 2018 Ryder Cup venue this week, Pavon is feeling inspired as he looks to emulate Justin Rose and Xander Schauffele as a gold medallist in golf.

“I always felt like the majors for golf are more important because we have not really grown up with the Olympics,” he said.

“Golf [only] came back in the Olympics in 2016 in Rio. So that was a different feeling first I had.

“And after a few days in the Olympic Village, the Opening Ceremony in Paris with all the crowds in front of the Eiffel Tower and all the great moments we spent the last few days, it really feels like a gold medal would be now ranked higher than a major for me.”

It was only in October last year that Pavon was still awaiting his first DP World Tour title.

But since winning the acciona Open de España presented by Madrid, Pavon became a global champion as he won his first PGA TOUR title in his rookie season at the Farmers Insurance Open on Saturday.

“It shows that highs and lows can come pretty quick, and this is what happened,” said Pavon of the rise to wider prominence he has enjoyed over the last 12 months.

“We work hard with my team, and all the work we achieve for the last few years match together.

“It's like part of the puzzle, and it feels like we have done great the last year and a half.

“When you are always on a good momentum and have a good attitude and have a good discipline working with your team, this is how everything can come quite quick.”

As Pavon openly admits, it was only after that momentous win in California that he turned his thoughts towards a home Olympics.

“When we started putting some points to qualify, it wasn't that big in my mind,” said world no. 23 Pavon.

“I was feeling I had steps to do before qualifying for the Olympics, and this is what I did.

“Qualifying for the PGA TOUR was my first goal. Then I won the tournament in Torrey and all of a sudden you're almost guaranteed to be in the team.

“From that moment I realised that dream become a goal that I had to prepare for.”

Like with Pavon, France teammate Victor Perez is making his Olympics debut this week as a 60-strong field featuring eight of the world’s top ten assemble at Le Golf National.

Perez, a three-time winner on the DP World Tour, also secured dual membership status this year by finishing in the top 10 on the DP World Tour’s Race to Dubai Rankings last season.

While the 31-year-old is yet to hit the same heights as Pavon stateside, three top 20s in his last six starts worldwide – including at the Genesis Scottish Open earlier this month – means he arrives with renewed confidence.

Perez is aware there will be an onus on him to perform in front of home crowds but that doesn’t mean he is feeling burdened by a weight of expectation.

“I don't think anybody in this room is going to be able to put more pressure on ourselves than we are already putting on ourselves,” said Perez.

“Obviously there's high expectations being in Paris and the course we've played so many times in the French Open, but at the same time, I try to see it as: Would you rather play at home or away. You'd rather play at home. And would you rather have the crowd with you or against you?

“You'd rather have it with you obviously. I think it's a matter of perspective and seeing the glass half-full.

“Yes, there's pressure, but there will be pressure next week and the week after for different reasons. You’re trying to take it for what it is and make a good performance.”