“The Ryder Cup is something that makes Europeans very proud and you obviously want to try to be a part of it.
But it's still a bit far, because none of the Grand Slam tournaments have yet been played, there are still so many points at stake ... ", estimated Perez last Saturday, on the eve of his semi-final lost against the future winner, the American Billy Horschel.
There is no doubt, however, that Padraig Harrington, the captain of the European team which will play the next edition, from September 24 to 26 in Wisconsin, was not insensitive to the brilliant course of the French number 1.
Even if the latter also gave in in the match for 3rd place against Matt Kuchar.
A few kind words from @ v_perez2on Le Golf National & The Ryder Cup 2018. We are all behind you today!
Some nice words from @ v_perez2about Le Golf National & The 2018 Ryder Cup.
We are all all behind you today!
# DellMatchPlaypic.twitter.com / sc9DISgmXG
- Le Golf National (@legolfnational) March 28, 2021
Because the 28-year-old Tarbais has had a series of performances for six months which have allowed him to climb into the world top 30 and stay there: second in the BMW PGA at Wentworth, seventh in the final of the European circuit in Dubai, and especially ninth in the Players Championship, considered by the Americans as a sort of fifth “Major”.
In Austin, his calm impressed, as much as his birdies / bogeys ratio, in this world summit where no French had shone since Victor Dubuisson, finalist in 2014.
»READ ALSO -
WGC-Match Play: the Frenchman Victor Perez invites himself in the last four
Match-play format
However, the “match-play” format, where two players / two pairs compete in a duel to win each hole, is precisely the one used in the very prestigious meeting between the United States and Europe, initially planned. last year, but postponed for a year due to the coronavirus pandemic.
If selected, Perez would be the fourth French to compete in the Ryder Cup, after Jean Van De Velde (1999), Thomas Levet (2004) and Victor Dubuisson in 2014.
»READ ALSO -
Golf: from Tarbes to San Francisco, in the footsteps of French number 1 Victor Perez
Son of a rugby player and coach, he knows the United States well, having spent four years at the University of New Mexico, from 2011 to 2015. Back in Europe, he set up his clubs in Scotland, Dundee, in the homeland of golf, not far from the famous Saint-Andrews site, which allowed him to continue to study on different courses, less manicured, and in a very competitive context.
From then on, its progression was regular, and its margin for improvement remains unknown.
Ticket
Second in the qualifications of the Alps Tour in December 2015, he climbed into the third European division and took fifth place in the final, thus earning his ticket for the Challenge Tour 2017. He spent two seasons in this second European division , finishing 18th the first and especially third the following, which qualified him for the big European circuit in 2019. It was there that he stepped up a gear, taking third place in the Hong Kong Open, in November 2018, at the start of the season, then taking his first victory in September 2019, at the Alfred Dunhill Links, Scotland.
"READ ALSO -
Victor Perez at Le Figaro:" In Mexico City, I shot myself ...
At the end of 2019, he was already in 41st place in the world ranking.
In 2020, despite the Covid pandemic, he finally took part in his first Major, the PGA Championship, where he took an excellent 22nd place, but then missed the cut at the US Open.
He knows it, he must confirm his current good pass with good performances in Majors.
Good thing, the Augusta Masters is approaching (April 8-11).
