Alstom Open de France: Thomas Levet returns home
Thomas Levet is coming back to his hometown to defend his Alstom Open de France title. The stage is set for the best in golf to battle it out at Le Golf National.
Levet can expect a great welcome when he returns to his home. This is due to his emotional victory in the last year’s French Open. Levet bagged the trophy, he had a one-stroke lead over his closest rival.
In 2011, on the final day of the tournament, Levet was at the 2nd position (leader at the time was Mark Foster). He was six-under par and Mark Foster was nine-under par.
Levet’s score for the day was one-under par. Consequently, his total score became seven-under par.
Surprisingly, Foster carded a bogey and a double bogey for the day. His score for the day was three-over par and his total score became six-under par.
This was a great victory for the Frenchman, as he was victorious in his own home town. The crowd was glad to see one of their own win, Levet himself was very excited.
To celebrate his victory, Levet jumped in the lake and broke his leg. Thus, the 43-year-old was not able to play golf for the next six weeks and withdrew from the Open Championship.
Even the pain of the broken leg and the sadness of not being able to play in the Open could not take away his delight over the tremendous victory. He had won the Open that is all he cared about.
“I compare that day to riding the Tour de France,” said Levet. “The Tour de France is tough for everyone, as is golf, and sometimes you just find that little extra energy from a look, something in their eyes or their faces”.
Levet also talked about the pros and cons of having a home crowd. He said, “They go beyond all their dreams and borders on those days. Having a home crowd does that for you. It can work against you if you take it the wrong way, but they certainly lifted
me that day”.
Levet was certainly able to use the home crowd to his advantage last year. Will he be able to do it again? For this we will have to wait for one week.
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