Padraig harrington
Photo: Presse Sports / ASO / R.Perrocheau

A trio of big names in European golf has indeed joined the Dubuisson, McDowell, Kaymer and Stadler among the stars present at the Golf National. For Padraig Harrington and Matteo Manassero, the French meeting will be one of the last opportunities to score valuable points with a view to qualifying for the Ryder Cup which will take place at the end of September in Scotland, while Thomas Bjørn, the current European number one , will play without pressure in Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines.

With a victory at the Nedbank Golf Challenge in December and a top 10 at the Masters and BMW PGA Championship this season, Thomas Bjørn is already guaranteed to play his third Ryder Cup, twelve years after his last appearance. Undisputed leader of the Race to Dubai standings and 23rd player in the world, the 43-year-old Dane has never played so well as this season. Eighth last year at the Golf National, his second best result after his 3rd place in 2007, he will therefore approach his 12th Alstom Open de France without pressure, where he will try to achieve a 16th success on the European circuit.

Matteo manassero
Photo: ASO / FFGolf / A.Orloff

Away from the Ryder Cup qualifying spots at the moment, Padraig Harrington has a crucial need to score the most points.

quickly possible. Winner of three Majors in 2007 and 2008 and fourteen titles in total on the European circuit, he would play in the event of qualification his 7th Ryder Cup. Today 222nd in the world, the 42-year-old Irishman remains a sure bet in European golf, and has all the experience necessary to shine on a course as selective as the Albatross. If he only played the Alstom Open of France twice, he has already signed a top 10, finishing 2nd in the centenary edition in 2006 behind the Englishman John Bickerton.

Thomas bjørn
Photo: Presse Sports / ASO / R.Perrocheau

Matteo Manassero, finally, is looking for his first participation in the Ryder Cup. At only 21 years old, the Italian prodigy already has four successes on the European circuit, one in each of the previous seasons. The young man therefore has all the assets to take the step that separates him from the top of the world rankings. The 63rd planetary player remains loyal to the Alstom Open de France, of which he has not missed any edition since his first appearance in 2010, and where he has never missed the cut. He will try to do better than in 2012, where he took 17th place, his best result to date in the event.