The European Tour and the French Golf Federation - ffgolf, announced on February 1st the Open de France will return to Le Golf National from May 6th to 9th 2021, with Grégory Havret becoming the first tournament host in the event’s illustrious history.
Future host of 2022 World Amateur Team Championships and Golf at 2024 Paris Olympic Games, the Parisian Venue will see the continental Europe’s oldest national Open return to the European Tour’s International Schedule after being cancelled in 2020 because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Like other tournaments on the 2021 Race to Dubai, the Open de France will be played under the auspices of the European Tour’s health strategy which will continue to evolve in line with French Government guidance. The European Tour and the French Golf Federation plan to stage the event without general admission in May.
Pascal Grizot, President of the ffgolf, said: “On behalf of the ffgolf and all French golfers, I warmly thank the European Tour for the support brought to the 2021 edition of our Open. After such a difficult year, this comeback of the Open de France on the international schedule is a first step in our common effort to lay the groundworks of a greater future for this historical tournament.” “The Albatros remains a real golf test for European Tour players as well as for the World Amateur Team Championships 2022 and the Olympics 2024.”
Keith Pelley, European Tour Chief Executive, added: “The Open de France is one of our most historic tournaments and Le Golf National is one of the leading venues in Europe, so we are delighted to confirm that both will feature as part of our schedule this year.”
The Open de France will also have a tournament host this year, with three-time European Tour winner Havret becoming the first player to take on the ambassadorial role. He said: “The Open de France means so much not only to golf fans in France but also to all of the French players, as shown by the commitment made today by so many of my fellow professionals to the event.” He will be joined at Le Golf National by France’s current crop of exciting European Tour players led by Victor Perez, World Number 35.
The 2021 Open de France, which will have a prize fund of €1.5million, will be the 104th edition of the tournament and the 19th consecutive to be played at Le Golf National, the venue which also hosted The 2018 Ryder Cup when Europe defeated the United States by 17½-10½.
Le Golf National will stay open until a few days before staging the event so that golfers can indulge themselves on the Albatros course as much as possible. The venue will reopen just after the event - on May 11th, enabling golfers the exclusive chance to brave the Albatros in stunning championship conditions.
In addition to French golfers, pro groups and international guests will be more than welcome if travel restrictions are reduced by that time of the year. Several pro groups offers and play and stay packages are available. On the one hand, golfers can make the most of their stay enjoying the onsite four-star Novotel Saint Quentin en Yvelines, overlooking the spectacular 4 final holes of the 2018 Ryder Cup Course. On the other hand, they may delight in experiencing the French art de vivre staying in Versailles, less than 10 km from the venue. The five-star hotel Trianon Palace Versailles - A Waldorf Astoria Hotel and the Le Louis Versailles Château – a MGallery four-star hotel, offer special conditions for Le Golf National golfers.