Strong field set for FedEx Open de France

The DP World Tour returns to the outskirts of Paris and Le Golf National for Continental Europe’s oldest national open – the FedEx Open de France.

The FedEx Open de France makes its return to the storied Le Golf National this week after a year absence due to extensive work undertaken to the long‑time DP World Tour venue. The course, which has hosted the championship on 30 occasions – including an unbroken run from 2002 to 2024 – underwent significant changes linked to the expansion of Paris’ Metro Line 18, a major infrastructure project that will eventually place a station just 300 metres from the clubhouse.

The redesign focused on holes four, five and six of the Albatros, where architect Russell Talley introduced new movement, elevation and strategic nuance: the fourth now shifts left around a protective mound with a raised green; the fifth becomes a dogleg right to a relocated, elevated green offering wide views; and the sixth features a split fairway, additional bunkering and a narrow, high green.

In total, 17 bunkers have been added, while greenkeeping teams also refined greens on holes one, two, nine and 18, reshaped lake edges, and built new tee boxes to ensure the course can seamlessly pivot between hosting elite tournaments and welcoming everyday golfers.

Michael Kim returns as defending champion after securing his maiden DP World Tour title with an impressive finish at last year’s FedEx Open de France. Starting one shot off the lead, he quickly gathered momentum with a near‑40‑foot birdie at the second and turned in 33, adding further gains at the seventh, ninth and tenth to stay firmly in contention.

After a steady run of pars, he surged late with birdies at 16 and 17 to move ahead, then produced a superb up‑and‑down from a bunker at the last, holing a 16‑foot par putt to win by a single stroke.

A top ten at the DP World Tour India Championship followed, with a further appearance at the season-ending DP World Tour Championship. After another season on the PGA Tour, which included the highlight of a 59 in July at the 3M Open, Kim now makes his return to France following a tie for 24th last week at the inaugural Biltmore Championship Asheville on the PGA Tour.

This year he’ll have one additional hurdle to face. He won on his debut in this event last year, but it was at a completely different course.

Defending champion Kim returns to Le Golf National to play in Europe for the first time since July, joining a field headlined by European Ryder Cup heroes Tommy Fleetwood, Matt Fitzpatrick, Ludvig Åberg and Viktor Hovland, who all arrive in Paris following the BMW PGA Championship.

They are joined by fellow PGA Tour winners Kristoffer Reitan, Ryan Gerard, Cameron Smith and Bud Cauley, and recent DP World Tour winners Scott Jamieson and Eugenio Chacarra.

A strong home contingent adds further depth, with Matthieu Pavon and Adrien Saddier leading a French line‑up that also includes Julien Guerrier, Antoine Rozner, Romain Langasque, Frédéric Lacroix, Victor Perez, Jeong weon Ko and Ugo Coussaud, as well as rising talents Martin Couvra, Oihan Guillamoundeguy and Tom Vaillant.

Dan Bradbury, who won the FedEx Open de France the last time it was staged at Le Golf National, is one of several past champions in the field, also including Kim (2025), Guido Migliozzi (2023), Fleetwood (2017) and Marcel Siem (2012).