Ireland's Padraig Harrington (far left) and Argentina's Angel Cabrera (left), who between them hold three of golf's four major titles, will headline the four million euros EPGA French Open which gets underway at Le Golf National here on Thursday. --PHOTO: AFP
VERSAILLES (France) - IRELAND'S Padraig Harrington and Argentina's Angel Cabrera, who between them hold three of golf's four major titles, will headline the four million euros EPGA French Open which gets underway at Le Golf National here on Thursday.
LAST year's suprise winner Spaniard Pablo Larrazabal, meanwhile, said that his wire to wire win had done wonders for his confidence.
'What I was most proud of was the way I was able to compete with the big names of the European Tour like Monty (Colin Montgomerie) and Lee (Westwood) as well as Angel Cabrera and Soren Hansen who were also up there,' he said.
Harrington will be looking to bounce back after missing the cut in the US Open at Bethpage Black on Long Island, New York last month and boost his hopes ahead of the British Open at Turnberry, Scotland in two weeks time.
There, the Dubliner will attempt to become the first man since Australia's Peter Thomson in 1956 to lift the Auld Claret Jug for three consecutive years following his triumphs at Carnoustie in 2007 and Royal Birkdale last year.
Harrington, whose form has slumped this year after deciding to tinker with his swing despite winning back-to-back majors in 2008, said after Bethpage that he was unconcerned about a succession of missed cuts and was confident he would return to winning ways.
'I would have liked to have come out just a little quicker, and certainly I didn't intend to drag it so far into the season,' he said. 'But I'm comfortable with it. I'm going to be patient. I know where I am.'
Harrington will go out in the first two rounds in the company of England's Ian Poulter who was second to him in the British Open last year.
Ryder Cup star Poulter has not won since late 2007 in Japan, but took second place behind Sweden's Henrik Stenson in the prestigious Players Championship in Florida in May and has three other top-10 finishes in the United States this season.
Cabrera, who won the Masters in April, his second major title after the 2007 US Open, will be bidding to emulate his compatriot and mentor Eduardo Romero, the last South American winner at Le Golf National in 1991. He will have the added incentive that playing alongside him for the first time at tournament level will be son Federico.
'Usually he just plays in Argentina and on the South American Tour so I will try to help him and give him advice on his swing. He is only 20-years-old and has been pro for just two years.'
Other major winners lined up for the tournament, which boasts of being the oldest golfing event in continental Europe, are Jose Maria Olazabal, John Daly, Paul Lawrie and Michael Campbell. -- AFP
