The latest prestigious tournament from the DP World Tour is due to take place this week as the road to the ‘Race to Dubai’ and the battle for the ten PGA Tour cards that are on offer heats up at the 2024 French Open
The scene for this week is glorious. Le Golf National was the host venue of the 2018 Ryder Cup and the 2024 Olympics, the course has quickly become one of the most reputable in European golf.
With time running out to finish the season strongly, this week is set to be pivotal in deciding who finishes where by the time that the European season concludes next month.
Ahead of what is bound to be a fantastic few days, here is everything you need to know about the 2024 French Open.
The Course
For most golfing pundits and professionals, Le Golf National has the perfect blend of risk and reward. Whilst there can be plenty of low scoring, if an approach or drive is wayward, the punishments can be costly.
A brute of a course, water is a common feature with players needing to overcome some form of water barrier on almost every hole.
The fairways are tight and as it was back in 2018, the rough is long and depending on the lie it can be unforgiving, to be successful this week accuracy off both the tee and fairway is simply a must.
The course this week will play as a par 71 and measures just under 7,300 yards. The signature holes to look out for are both 17 and 18. Surrounded by water, players will need to be accurate to find the heart of the greens with their approaches. If they get it wrong, any chances of glory is likely to be taken away from them.
Who Are The Favourites?
Two men are currently tied at the top of the betting with both Rasmus Hojgaard and Billy Horschel vying it out for favouritism.
Hojgaard is a five time winner on the DP World Tour and his steady performances over the years have seen him rise all the way to 62 in the world which is currently the highest position he has ever held.
His most recent victory came a month ago when he enjoyed arguably the best win of his career when he won the 2024 Irish Open in dramatic fashion. A huge hitter of the ball, when Hojgaard is playing his best golf there are few on the DP World Tour that can match his scoring powers.
In a prime position to snap up one of the ten PGA Tour cards that are on offer to the best finishers on the DP World Tour, he can go a long way to securing his first ever PGA card with a positive week. A former runner up at this event back in 2022, he rightly looks like one of the best bets of the week.
After a few lean years on the PGA Tour, Billy Horschel has bounced back with a vengeance. Now finding himself ranked 17 in the world, he has almost reached his career high and he is playing some of the best golf of his career.
A runner up at the 2024 Open, Horschel managed to get over the line when winning the BMW PGA Championship in dramatic fashion from Rory McIlroy in a thrilling playoff. The effects from winning the BMW PGA clearly had an impact on the American who wasn’t at his usual consistent best when missing the cut at the Alfred Dunhill Championship.
Now third in the overall Race to Dubai standings, Horschel holds an outside chance of catching McIlroy who currently leads the way but a high finish this week is an absolute must if he is to keep his dreams of landing the European Order of Merit alive.
Completing the top three in the betting is the pair of Thriston Lawrence and Matt Wallace.
Rewind to this time last year and few would have heard about Thriston Lawrence, however that has all changed this year. Currently sitting second in the overall Race to Dubai standings, it took a special effort from Xander Schauffele to overhaul his lead at the Open and since then the South African has been able to capture titles back in his native South Africa.
Arguably the most consistent player this season on the DP World Tour, he hasn’t quite been able to win on European soil this season but he has come close at the BMW PGA Championship, Dubai Invitational, Jonsson Workwear Open and European Open where he has finished second in all of these events.
Like Horschel, time is running out for Lawrence if he is to try and make a dent in McIlroy’s lead and another big week will be needed.
For European golf fans it’s great to see Matt Wallace near the top of the betting. A feisty character there was a period where Wallace looked on course to be one of Europe’s best players but after a few bumpy years Wallace looked in real danger of falling into the golfing wilderness.
A winner on the PGA Tour last season when winning the Puntacana Championship down in the Dominican Republic, he has enjoyed more success this season when he held his nerve to win the European Masters.
Now back riding the crest of a wave, Wallace has spoken of his determination to make his first ever Ryder Cup next season and he has got off to a perfect start. Needing to make the most of his opportunities that come his way, he will be looking to catch the eye of European Captain Luke Donald this week.
French Open Betting
If you fancy placing a bet this week for the 2024 French Open, here is how the top ten in the betting currently looks.
Rasmus Hojgaard - 12/1
Billy Horschel - 12/1
Matt Wallace - 18/1
Thriston Lawrence - 18/1
Jordan Smith - 20/1
Thorbjorn Olesen - 22/1
Niklas Norgaard Moller - 25/1
Thomas Detry - 25/1
Victor Perez - 25/1
Matteo Manassero - 28/1
Jack Hartman
A keen golfer and huge fan of the game, Jack has been covering golf for the last five years. Bringing you all the latest coverage and news from the PGA, LIV, LPGA and DP World Tours, never before has golf been so popular and Jack can’t wait to bring all the excitement to his readers.
