GOLF FRENCH OPEN:JUST WHEN people were starting to wonder whatever happened to Jean Van de Velde, he has popped up in Paris with a sparkling round.
Eleven years on from the week – indeed, the hole – which wrote him into golf history, the 44-year-old began the French Open, just his second event of the year, with a five-under-par 66 to be in a share of second place, three behind Dutchman Robert-Jan Derksen.
Now, if he goes on to win the title on Sunday, Van de Velde, no longer a European Tour card holder, would be playing in the British Open at St Andrews in two weeks rather than commentating on it.
But, as the world number 1,175 confesses, that is a big “if”. With Lee Westwood and Ian Poulter passed fit to play following their leg problems – they shot 70 and 72 respectively – Van de Velde will have to beat five of the world’s top-11.
Number 10 on that list is Rory McIlroy, who had three birdies on his homeward stretch, the front nine, to sign for a three-under 68 for a share of 10th place.
He was joined on that mark by Damien McGrane, who had four birdies in his round.
And Michael Hoey found a bit of form to shoot a 69 that included five birdies for a share of 20th.
Defending champion Martin Kaymer, ranked 11th in the world, also began with a 66.
But in the last group of the day, former Dubai Desert Classic winner Derksen charged through the back nine in a five-under 30 and picked up further shots on the first, sixth and long closing ninth.
“I have no expectations whatsoever,” said Van de Velde, who needed a sponsor’s invitation to be part of the field. “Even now. Especially now.
“But we will see – you never know with a Frenchman.”
He proved that at Carnoustie, of course. Three ahead standing on the final tee, Van de Velde crashed to the most famous triple bogey and then lost the play-off to Paul Lawrie.
This event has also given him his heartache. He tied with compatriot Jean-Francois Remesy five years ago after once more finding water on the last again, then did it again in sudden death.
“There are two tournaments I would like to play all my life if I could – the French Open and the British Open. I have a few scars and some have not healed, but those are the two that have a special place.”
Westwood and Poulter dropped two late shots, but were relieved to be playing after they were forced to sit out the eve-of-tournament pro-am.
There was a fear Westwood, runner-up after a play-off last year, was suffering a blood clot, but a hospital visit said the swelling had more to do with the heat.
“It’s a bit sore and stiff and I think I have an injury in there somewhere,” he said. “I think it wants rest and I have a couple of weeks after the Open when I can put my feet up.”
Poulter had suffered a reaction to an insect bite on his shin and was given anti-biotics.
After three-putting the 16th and 18th, he commented: “I got round all right, but it’s been itching the whole day and driving me crazy.”
World number seven Luke Donald – second, first and third in his last tournaments in Europe – was two over starting for home, but finished with a one-under 70.
Ryder Cup captain Colin Montgomerie could do no better than 73.
However, Jose Maria Olazabal, back in action for the first time since October because of his continuing battle with rheumatism, crashed to joint last place on 82 after taking – like cup hopeful Simon Dyson in his 78 – a quintuple bogey nine on the last.
