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2023 Cazoo Open de France Tips
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2023 Cazoo Open de France Event Info
Starts: 21st September 2023
Course: Le Golf National, France
Par: 71
Length: 7,247 yards
Defending Champion: Guido Migliozzi
2023 Cazoo Open de France Course Info
Designer: Hubert Chesneau and Robert Van Hagge.
Used Since: 1991 (No events held 2020-2021)
Fairways: Average, Undulating.
Greens: Average, Bentgrass.
Water Hazards: On 1, 2, 13, 15, 16 and 18.
Premium on: Approach and putting.
Significant Info
This course hosted the Ryder Cup in 2018 and underwent changes to the course prior to the 2016 Open De France, therefore the events between 2016-2019, and the 2022 edition, are most relevant from a course form point of view.
European Golf Design, the firm tasked with the re-design, were also responsible for the 2010 course at Celtic Manor, Green Eagle Golf (Nord) and Marco Simeone GC.
The event was traditionally played in June/July as a rolex series event however was pushed back to October in 2019 and now fills a slot in September from 2022 onwards. Course conditions from the 2019 and 2022 editions are therefore most similar.
2023 Cazoo Open de France Weather
Thursday
Morning rain likely that may be heavy at times with isolated thunderstorms possible. Wind 10-20mph.
Friday
Partly sunny with showers. Wind 12-18mph.
Saturday
Partly sunny and cool. Wind 10-15mph.
Sunday
Partly sunny, breezy and warmer. Wind 10-15mph.
2023 Cazoo Open de France Trends
Winning Score
The winning score was 16 under par in 2022 with only two players finishing better than 11 under par. 12 under par won in 2019 whilst Alex Noren only won with 7 under par in 2018. The years between 2015-2017 were all won with scores between 11-13 under par and we should expect a similar score this year.
Course Form
Migliozzi had missed the cut in his only prior start. In 2019, Colsaerts had a couple of T11's previously but nothing special. 2018 winner Noren took a while to warm up to the course but had posted back to back top 10's before his win. 2017 winner Fleetwood had missed 4/4 cuts before his win in 2017. Course form helps but isn't essential.
Recent Form
Miglozzi was in steady form with five top 40's in a row (no top 10's though). Colsaerts was having a poor year, with only one top 10 before his win in October 2019. Noren was in much better form before his win, with four top 25's in a row whilst arrived in red hot form too in 2017. Thongchai Jaidee was in fairly average form before his win in 2016. Form not essential, but has helped in some years.
Winner's Profile
Migliozzi, Colsaerts, Noren, Fleetwood and Jaidee were all established winners on tour and every winner in the last decade has been the same. We should be looking for a classy winner this week.
2023 Cazoo Open de France Stats
With the 2019 and 2022 editions most relevant, we will analyse the stats of the top four in 2019 and the runaway top two in 2022.
SG: Off The Tee
45-70-6-63-45-12. Strong drivers of the golf ball are preferred but not essential.
Driving Accuracy
119-95-55-57-51-105. Driving accuracy isn't essential this week.
Driving Distance
4-63-4-79-28-30. Distance over accuracy this week but not crucial.
SG: Approach
55-2-7-28-8-12. Strong iron play is generally required here.
SG: Tee to Green
19-3-2-34-9-28. You can putt your way to a big finish, as JB Hansen did in 2019. Strong ball striking is preferred though.
SG: Around The Green
17-19-43-57-35-101. ATG isn't essential this week.
SG: Putting
2-12-23-2-16-5. A solid putting week is usually required around Le Golf National.
2023 Cazoo Open de France In-Play Tips
Tough Holes
The final four holes can play really tough, in particular 18 which was the toughest hole in 2022, whilst it is also a tough start with 1,2 and 4 all averaging over par.
In-Play
Nine of the last twelve round three leaders have not been able to convert, most notably in 2018 winner Alex Noren trailed by seven and Graeme McDowell trailed by eight!. Players have also come from two, three, four and five back (twice) in the last ten editions. Don't be scared to take on the leader on Sunday if he is vulnerable.
2023 Cazoo Open de France Tips
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In-play
2023 Cazoo Open de France In-Play Blog
22nd September 2023, 10pm (UK time)
| Player | Total |
|---|
| Smith |
-13 |
| Ferguson |
-13 |
| Higa |
-12 |
| Paul |
-11 |
| Hisatsune |
-9 |
2023 Open de France Round 3 Summary
A second consecutive round of 67 saw Ewen Ferguson tie Jordan Smith at the top of the leaderboard.
2023 Open de France Round 4 Weather
Sunny. Wind 6-9mph.
Back or Lay The Favourite?
Jordan Smith remains favourite, drifting slightly to 13/8. That's too short considering just how badly he fared when leading going into the final round at the European Open in June. Smith fired a final round 75 that day to slip back to 6th place.
In-Play Open de France Bets We Considered
Two of the last three winners at Le Golf National have been seventh position or worse going into the final round so winners from off the pace can happen here. However, given the front four have opened up a gap on teh chasers, we think it is likely that the winner comes from one of those top four.
We're regretting not backing Ewen Ferguson yesterday and he remains a player we think has a strong chance in the final round. The Scot may have struggled in contention earlier in his career but has been impressive since and is expected to go close in the final round.
We also looked at several two balls, John Parry and Zander Lombard making most appeal.
Open de France Round 4 Bets
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22nd September 2023, 10pm (UK time)
| Player | Total |
|---|
| Smith |
-12 |
| Ferguson |
-9 |
| Six players tied |
-7 |
2023 Open de France Round 2 Summary
Favourite Tom Kim collapsed in his last three holes with a triple and double bogey and is now seven back of leader Jordan Smith. Ewen Ferguson is his closest challenger, three shots back.
2023 Open de France Round 3 Weather
Cloudy. Wind 10-15mph.
Back or Lay The Favourite?
Smith is now 5/4 favourite and he has a sizeable lead over the rest of the field, excluding Ferguson. He ranks 1st tee to green, 1st for approach and 4th off the tee and on top of that he's putting better than usual too. A winner as recent as Portugal just under a year ago, however not known as a clinical closer of events, it's a hard one to call. The strength off the chasing pack aside from Ferguson is off putting but this is a course which things can change fast, as Kim showed today.
In-Play Open de France Bets We Considered
We have seen some massive final round comebacks over the years here so it may be best to wait and see if anyone is in a position to catch Smith from off the pace after three rounds. Ewen Ferguson made serious consideration at 15/2 though, the Scot won twice in 2022 and has three top fives this year, he likely won't shy way from challenging Smith.
Open de France Round 3 Bets
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21st September 2023, 8:35pm (UK time)
| Player | Total |
|---|
| T Kim |
-7 |
| Mansell |
-6 |
| Lagergren |
-6 |
| Garcia-Heredia |
-6 |
| Southgate |
-6 |
| Ten players tied |
-5 |
2023 Open de France Round 1 Summary
The morning starters got the worst of conditions, with heavy rain falling in the morning before dissipating in the afternoon. The conditions didn't phase Tom Kim though, the young Korean setting the pace with a morning round of 64.
2023 Open de France Round 2 Weather
Rain throughout the day. Wind 8-12mph.
Back or Lay The Favourite?
Tom Kim is the understandable favourite given he was the pre-tournament favourite and best player in the field according to the world rankings. He was bogey free in round one, looking very much a force to be reckoned with. With that said, 11/4 isn't a price we are entertaining at this stage. The last three winners of this event were all outside the top five after the opening round and with bad weather once again forecast for tomorrow, there is no need to be back short priced favourites.
In-Play Open de France Bets We Considered
With some weather forecasts suggesting the players out later in the day might get the best of conditions, Zander Lombard made appeal at 110/1. The South African got off to a solid start in round one, shooting four under par and going bogey free. Two runner up finishes this year suggest a win isn't too far away and he's certainly one to keep an eye on in play.
Open de France Round 2 Bets
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