“I had learned a lot from 2003, during my first experience at the Masters.
Without really having the course in the eye since we had not been able to train (due to the terrible weather at the beginning of the week).
In 2005, I had a strategy in place for each hole, and I stuck to it.
For 72 holes.
I was very proud of it.
I had beaten the course (71 Thursday, 68 Saturday) and I qualified for the following year by finishing 13th.
I had played really well that year.
Without making a lot of mistakes. ”
So speaks Thomas Levet, three Masters on the clock (2003, 05 and 06) and still holder of the best final result of a Frenchman in Augusta.
An analysis that should allow Victor Perez to understand the event differently in five months (8-11 April 2021) when he returns here to challenge the Augusta National Golf Club for the 85th edition.
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For its first in the most legendary of Grand Slam tournaments, Tarbais has not been unworthy.
He first became the fifth French - only - to cross the cut after Jean Van de Velde (2000), Thomas Levet (2005), Victor Dubuisson and Romain Langasque (both in 2016).
Taking the 46th final place with a total score of 289 (+1).
Above all, he gained experience and targeted a little more areas of the game to improve.
“The objective is to gauge my game, to see what happens, he also warned us before the tournament.
This is the most important thing I will focus on during my week in Augusta. ”
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It is undoubtedly on the greens that the current 37th player in the world will have to place the cursor a little higher still.
His average putts per hole is 1.71 (including four times three putts) while the field average is 1.66.
His performances on par 5 of the course dear to Bobby Jones were not very conclusive either: only four successful birdies (against three bogeys).
Clearly insufficient when you know that it is often there that the difference is made.
"I am satisfied with the way things have gone, he nevertheless let go at the end of his last lap.
It was much more difficult this Sunday.
I think the wind was a bit more present and made the game a bit more complicated.
During the third round, I had a lot of difficulty getting near the hole.
I really needed a good race on Saturday to put myself in a position to have a great week, and I couldn't do it.
I struggled on the greens again yesterday.
Today was a little better.
It was, I think, getting some experience and starting to see the ball rolling on these greens and how it goes.
And I think it went better today. ”
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After two first conclusive laps completed in 70 (-2) and 71 (-1), Victor Perez had a delicate Moving day, signing a heavy 76 (+4), conceding six bogeys for two successful birdies.
His set of irons was also less efficient that day (44% of greens taken in regulation) while his overall average is rather encouraging: 65%.
Fortunately, his Sunday was much more solid despite a double bogey came to weight a final card of 72 (par).
With 82% of fairways affected, it will also be able to rely on this data to see, we all hope, even further next spring…
A different Masters course in April 2021
“I think it's an advantage not to have a year to wait,” he concludes.
We will be back sooner than expected, and that's a good thing.
The course will certainly be much more different than it has been this week.
It will be firmer, faster.
But I think it's good not to wait too long before coming back. ”
By then, Victor Perez is set to complete his season at the very beginning of next month, with the last two tournaments on the 2020 European Tour calendar.
The Dubai Championship (2-5 December) and especially the DP World Tour Championship (10-13 December), the final of the Race with reduced field, without cut (60 players), which will distribute many points, essential to consider progressing a little more in the world ranking.