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R&A worried as French aim for European chapeau-trick at Troon! | ||||
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July 14, 2004; Source: AnyoneForTee World Exclusive In form Remesy and Levet seek to mark Bastille Day with Open victory | ||||
 FRANCE/SCOTLAND. Officials of the Royal & Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews, organisers of this week's 133rd Open Championship at Royal Troon, are deeply concerned at the possibility of a French player winning, Anyone For Tee has learned.  Frenchmen have won two of the last three tournaments on the European Tour, with Jean-François Remesy (left) taking the French Open at the end of June and Thomas Levet (right) lifting last week's Scottish Open title, and they are now looking to make it a hat-trick at Troon to celebrate the French National holiday, Bastille Day (July 14th), which falls in Open week."It was bad enough them claiming they had invented golf, and wanting the Open played across the Channel (see our earlier story about the Franco-Scottish argument over the origins of golf)," said an irate R&A spokesman, "but now they're saying that if they win the Claret Jug they're going to rename it Le Pichet de Château Mouton-Rothschild, and keep it in France "where it belongs". And if we try to get it back, they've threatened to throw it in the river in Paris, which would be criminally in-Seine! It's unthinkable! We should have banned them from playing here, when we had the chance."  Anyone For Tee understands that the French have been plotting to reclaim the Claret Jug for France ever since Jean Van de Velde suffered his ignominious loss of the Open Championship at Carnoustie in 1999, taking 7 on the final hole when he had a 6 to win. The 'amphibious' Frenchman took it well, but the new generation of French golfers are determined to restore the honour of France. They further believe that this year's Open venue - Troon - is predestined to bring them success, as the name bears a close resemblance to the French for 'Hole in One' - Trou en Un. "I'm afraid we have to take them seriously again," said the R&A spokesman. "After all, Thomas Levet (left) has already finished second in The Open (in 2002, losing in a four-way playoff to Ernie Els - Ed), and you can see that over the years they are learning to come to grips with water, which of course was Van de Velde's downfall at Carnoustie.""I refer to Monsieur Remesy's recent performance at the French Open. Not only was he the first French winner since Jean Garaialde in 1969, but although he too ended up in water at the 18th, he was thrown in by his compatriots AFTER winning the title, rather than going in of his own accord while the championship was still alive." | ||||
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 "The R&A is not, however, totally defenceless. We think our little burn at the 16th (pictured right) could prove irresistible to the French, and once you're in there, there's no way out - not even room for a backswing. If they get their frog's legs in that, they're done for. No spawning of froggy winners if you get my meaning - rather good, what.....? Well, er..., perhaps you'd better not quote me on that last bit, off the record and all that sort of thing..... OK?"Anyone For Tee will be keeping a close eye on the French challenge, so check back daily for a progress report. | ||||
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