Adrien Saddier is looking to use home comforts to his advantage this week as he prepares to tee it up in the Blot Open de Bretagne at Golf Blue Green de Pléneuf Val André.
The Frenchman finished in a tie for fourth at this venue in 2013, his first year as a professional, after carding rounds of 69-65-72-69 and hopes good memories in Pléneuf fuel success this week.
“This is a place I really enjoy playing,” he said. “I’ve had a couple of good results here and my first top five finish as a professional, which was nine years ago. I think the course suits my game and I’m looking forward to this week.
“It’s always nice to have some home support, especially because during Covid there were no fans present. In France we always have a big following, especially on Sunday.”
The 30-year-old recorded a seventh place finish at the season opening Dimension Data Pro-Am in South Africa but hasn’t had a top ten on the 2022 Road to Mallorca since.
Saddier is hoping a return to home soil can trigger an upturn in form and is looking forward to navigating the links-style course at Golf Blue Green de Pléneuf Val André.
“My mindset is the best it has been in a long time,” he said. “I have worked very hard with my psychologist this year and it has been a huge help to my game. I started the year with a top ten in South Africa and I have only missed one cut on the Challenge Tour this year.
“I like to play on links-style courses. You have to think about the bounces and take into consideration the wind because it is not a course where you can always be aggressive. It is a difficult course and sometimes par is a good score, you don’t need to shoot 20 under par to win this week.”
The Frenchman secured his maiden European Challenge Tour title six years ago at the 2016 Fred Olsen Challenge de España after reaching a remarkable 24 under par total, and the 30-year-old is determined to add a second title to his trophy cabinet.
“I’ve proven to myself that I can win on the Challenge Tour and hopefully I can put myself into that position again because it was a great feeling,” he said. “I’m looking to improve each week and see how it goes.”
Saddier is joined in Pléneuf this week by Road to Mallorca Number Five Alexander Knappe, who won the season opening Dimension Data Pro-Am, as well as Road to Mallorca Number Nine Christopher Mivis.
The action gets under way at 8:00am local time on Thursday June 23, with Saddier playing alongside Englishman Todd Clements and Ireland’s Ruaidhri McGee at 9:00am.
