Adrien Saddier arrives at the Cordon Golf Open knowing that graduation from the European Challenge Tour is currently just within his grasp, and the Frenchman is targeting a big week on home soil as he bids to return to the European Tour.
The 24 year old currently sits in 16thplace in the Road to Oman Rankings which, as things stand, would be the final spot to earn a place in the Race to Dubai for 2017.
The top 15 from the Road to Oman will graduate but, because leader Romain Langasque earned points while still an amateur at the season-opening Barclays Kenya Open, he will count in addition to the 15 professional graduates – meaning that in 2016, 16thwill be good enough.
Saddier, however, does not want to leave anything to chance, and the winner of the Fred Olsen Challenge de España is focused on moving away from the bubble and climbing the Rankings to make sure of another season alongside the best in Europe.
“I’ve been having a good season,” he said. “I’ve had a runner-up finish and then the victory in La Gomera. I’m just outside the top 15, and I hope to have another good result this week here.
“I know 16this good enough this year, but the goal is to finish inside the top 15 and as high as possible to make it as good as possible for next year – there are a lot of tournaments left so I hope to have some more good results.
“It’s very nice to have a lot of French guys doing well. It’s good for the group – I think we have five in the top 16 and Clément Sordet not too far off, so it’s a nice group and I think it helps make each other play well every week, a very friendly rivalry.”
Saddier earned a place on the European Tour by claiming the sixth card at Qualifying School Final Stage in 2013 after coming through all three stages of the marathon event, just four months after turning professional.
A fresh-faced Saddier in 2013, shortly after turning professional
The Cordon Golf Open that year was only his fourth event in the paid ranks, but a tie for fourth place at Golf Blue Green de Pléneuf Val André immediately showed that he had the ability to deliver on the potential he had shown in amateur ranks.
“It’s a nice memory to have,” he said. “It was my first top five as a pro and it was only my fourth tournament as a professional, and it gave me a lot of confidence going to Qualifying School just after.
“I love the course, I love the place, it’s just a great week for me. You have to hit good shots from the tee and find a lot of fairways because it’s a very fair course, but you have to put yourself in position.
“You have to hit well off the tee and if you’re a long hitter you can hit a lot of three woods and two irons, which is very good for me too.”
