El número tres del mundo, Lee Westwood, encabeza una de las participaciónes de mayor nivel de la historia del Alstom Open de France esta semana.
Westwood se adjudicó su 22º segundo título del Circuito Europeo en el Nordea Masters en Suecia a principios de mes, y luego quedó entre los diez primeros en el Open USA.
La estrella inglesa de la Ryder tiene un buen historial en el Open de Francia, con cuatro top diez en sus nueve participaciones. Estuvo a punto de ganar en 2009, cuando perdió en desempate ante el alemán Martin Kaymer. Este año llega en busca de su segunda victoria consecutiva en Europa continental.
A Kaymer y Westwood se unirán esta semana otros cuatro aspirantes al equipo de la Ryder: el líder de la Carrera a Dubai, Justin Rose, el campeón del Open USA 2010 US Open Champion Graeme McDowell, Swede Peter Hanson and Spaniard Gonzalo Fernandez-Castaño.
They will be hoping to boost their Ryder Cup aspirations with a strong performance in the €3,150,000 event at Le Golf National in Paris, the host venue for The 2018 Ryder Cup.
With European Captain José María Olazábal, the 2001 champion, also in the field, it will be a good opportunity for those looking to break into the automatic qualifying positions, with only six more qualifying events remaining after the Alstom Open de France.
In total there will be 13 players from the top 50 on the Official World Golf Ranking in the field, including Englishman Ian Poulter and Scotland’s Martin Laird.
Including the aforementioned Kaymer, McDowell and Olazábal, there will be eight Major Champions vying for the title, with Open Champion Darren Clarke among those players travelling from this week’s Irish Open at Royal Portrush Golf Club.
Defending champion is Frenchman Thomas Levet, the former Ryder Cup player who delighted the home support 12 months ago by finishing one shot clear of Dane Thorbjørn Olesen and Englishman Mark Foster.
Levet’s victory, in front of packed galleries, came just six weeks after Le Golf National was awarded The 2018 Ryder Cup.
