By Will Pearson, europeantour.com
at Le Golf National
Graeme McDowell will launch his defence of the Alstom Open de France alongside rising French star Victor Dubuisson and US Open Champion Martin Kaymer when play begins at Le Golf National on Thursday.
Northern Ireland’s McDowell, who triumphed by four shots 12 months ago, will tee off at 1320 local time from the first tee with World Number 22 Dubuisson – the highest-ranked Frenchman – and German Kaymer, who memorably claimed his second Major title at Pinehurst Resort in North Carolina just three weeks ago.
Elsewhere, Race to Dubai leader Thomas Bjorn, who returned to action last week following a three week layoff due to a shoulder injury, gets under way at 0820 alongside Welshman Jamie Donaldson and Volvo China Open winner Alexander Levy.
Ryder Cup team-mates Francesco Molinari and Nicolas Colsaerts are reunited at 1300 with big-hitting Spaniard Alvaro Quiros, while three-time Major winner Padraig Harrington has former European Number One Robert Karlsson and Frenchman Raphael Jacquelin for company during the first two days at Le Golf National.
The European Tour’s most recent first-time winner, Paraguayan Fabrizio Zanotti, tees it up with Italy’s Matteo Manassero and Frenchman Romain Wattel at 0810 on Friday, while fellow 2014 champions Mikael Lundberg and Daniel Brooks, who prevailed at the Madeira Islands Open and Lyoness Open respectively earlier this year, take to the revered L’Albatros with Frenchman Gary Stal from 1240.
Englishman David Howell (0750), this week making his 500th appearance on The European Tour, plays the first two rounds alongside compatriots David Horsey and Paul Waring.
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