Jean-Francois Remesy beats Jean Van de Velde in playoff

Jean-Francois Remesy retained his French Open title in dramatic fashion by beating fellow Frenchman Jean Van de Velde in a sudden-death playoff at Le Golf National on Sunday.

Remesy, who ended a 35-year wait for a home champion last year with a seven-stroke victory, sealed his third European Tour title despite running up a double-bogey six at the first extra hole after finding water with his approach.

Van de Velde, who will forever be known for losing the 1999 British Open by triple-bogeying the 72nd hole at Carnoustie, fared even worse there after also finding trouble with his second shot.

He overhit the green for his ball to end up in the reeds, had to take a penalty drop and his victory hopes effectively ended when his fourth shot became plugged in a greenside bunker.

Unable to get up and down, he finished with a triple-bogey seven.

"It's a great moment for France, for golf and for life," the 41-year-old Remesy told reporters.

"I managed to finish on top but Jean played really fantastic today. We had to have a winner and fortunately for me it was me."

A tearful Van de Velde, playing in the tournament on a sponsor's invitation after a nightmare three years of injury, said: "What a day, what a week.

"I had a good chance and couldn't close it out but I am pretty tough with myself. I have to look at it in a different way.

"I haven't been in any position like this in the last three years and haven't been able to play golf the last two so at least I am playing well, put myself up there and all I can hope is to have another chance pretty soon."

Van de Velde, who regained his European Tour card as well as exemption for next month's British Open at St Andrews by finishing second, has played on a medical exemption for the last two years following knee surgery in July 2002.

The French duo, urged on by their home fans, completed the 72 holes of regulation play on 11-under-par 273, Van de Velde and Remesy both closing with two-under 69s.

Denmark's Soren Hansen secured third place at eight under after shooting a 71.

Argentina's Eduardo Romero, joint leader overnight with Van de Velde and Remesy, fell out of contention in his bid to become the European Tour's oldest winner at the age of 50 with a closing 76.

The 39-year-old Van de Velde, whose only European Tour victory came at the 1993 Roma Masters, made the best start on the final day.

He birdied the first to break clear and then holed out from a greenside bunker at the second to get to 11 under.

Remesy, however, stayed close behind when he sank a 30-foot birdie putt on two.

He then holed a 25-footer for birdie at the par-four sixth to tie for the lead before Van de Velde slipped back when he dropped a shot at the seventh.

The tournament had by now become a two-horse race.

Van de Velde drew level with Remesy by holing a 15-footer at the 12th and regained the outright lead when he reached the green in two and two-putted for birdie at the par-five 14th.

Although Van de Velde stumbled with a bogey-four on 16 after finding the left rough off the tee, he forged ahead when his compatriot dropped his only shot of the day at the 17th.

However Van de Velde, bidding to win his first tour title in 12 years, set up the tournament's dramatic finale when he lost his ball close to water off the tee at the last on his way to a bogey-five.

Email this page to a friend | Return to top of page