Jamie Rutherford is looking to continue his recent good form as he targets a maiden Challenge Tour win in the Le Vaudreuil Golf Challenge at Golf PGA France du Vaudreuil.
The Englishman arrives at Le Vaudreuil having recorded two top ten finishes in four starts since the Road to Mallorca arrived in Europe last month and has risen to 28th on the season-long Rankings.
Rutherford attributes his recent upturn in form to his game being suited to the challenge of playing European courses, both off the tee and around the green.
“It’s nice being back in Europe and being close to home,” he said. “Since we’ve come back to Europe, I’ve felt that some of the courses have suited my game a little bit more.
“They’re a little bit tighter with more trouble off the tee compared to some of the wide-open courses we played early in the season, but I feel more comfortable playing that kind of golf.
“I was really struggling around the greens to start the year and there were a lot of weeks where I putted poorly, but I’m starting to see some improvement and holing a few more putts. To have higher finishes, you have to putt well.”
The 32-year-old – who is teeing it up in his 95th Challenge Tour event this week – has yet to join the winner’s circle but is returning to a happy hunting ground at Golf PGA France du Vaudreuil.
Rutherford carded rounds of 66-74-70-67 to finish a career-best third place in the 2023 edition of the event, and highlighted an aggressive approach off the tee as the key to his success.
“I’ve got good feelings coming back here to a golf course that is set up well for me,” he said. “Last year, the key for me was that I played the course a lot more aggressive than other players, and by driving the ball really well, I set myself up for success.
“The course has thick rough and lots of trouble if you’re wayward off the tee but I feel like I’m a straight driver so I can take advantage of that. The greens are small but if you can push the ball down the fairway, you can leave yourself short iron shots and there will be lots of chances.
“It’s been a big goal of mine for a few seasons now to get my first win. I’m a better player now than I was in the past but I feel like the next step now is getting over the line and winning.”
Rutherford is part of a strong field in Normandy which includes four-time DP World Tour winners David Horsey from England and Scot Marc Warren. Joining them will be Road to Mallorca Number One Rasmus Neergaard-Petersen and Number Two John Parry, both of whom will be chasing a third victory this season to earn automatic promotion to the DP World Tour.
Round one gets under way at 8:00am local time with Rutherford teeing off at 8:30am alongside Frenchman Julien Sale and Dutchman Lars van Meijel.
