Thomas Levet gets extra security

Thomas Levet didn't request protection at last week's Honda Classic following an incident at the Ford Championship at Doral in Miami the previous week when a group of loud-mouthed inebriates shouted insults at him for being French.

But he got it anyway. The US authorities weren't taking any chances.

With France opposing George Bush on the burning issue of war with Iraq, they clearly thought it a necessary to assign two federal agents and a police officer wearing plain clothes to Levet to ensure no harm came to him from over-zealous patriots.

The three men unobtrusively followed Levet from inside the ropes, but it didn't help his game very much - in spite of there being no further incidents.

Along with Colin Montgomerie and major winners John Daly and Paul Azinger the French runner-up in the 2002 Open Championship to Ernie Els didn't make the cut

His 69 and 72 at the Sunset Course at The Country Club of Mirasol added up to two shots too many.

Looking back at the thugs he had encountered at the Ford Championship, Levet said, "They were saying things I didn't quite catch, but they weren't funny. They were insulting."

Levet's caddy, Owen Craig, said that in his opinion the antagonists had been drinking.

Levet's only response, Craig said, was a Gallic clap of his hands which was directed at the rowdy fans.

The French golfer merely smiled when asked if he was a political animal.

"No. It's not my cup of tea - although I am aware of what's going on in the world, of course."

Born in Paris but listed on the Honda Classic pairing sheet as playing out of England, where he has a home, Levet nevertheless preferred to be introduced as French when he teed off at Mirasol

"And there was no problem at all," he said after his opening 69

The agents and police officer, who were scheduled to work the tournament as rovers, were originally going to accompany John Daly simply because of the big man's high-profile reputation.

Steve Wunderlich, a group supervisor for the US Customs Service, said tournament officials had asked him and the other two men to switch to Levet after the incident at Doral.

"But everything was quiet," Wunderlich said.

Levet said the PGA Tour told him of its desire to provide him with extra security, and asked that he not respond to any improper crowd behavior.

Meanwhile Peter Jacobsen, who played with Levet in all four rounds at Doral, called him "one of the nicest people you could ever meet" and "a great, great guy who handled everything like a champ."

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