From our special correspondent in Augusta,
Resident of the top 50 for many months, the French number one Victor Perez was present in 2020 and 2021. He was even in 29th place in the world at the beginning of April 2021. After winning at the Alfred Dunhill Links, in September 2019, his first big title, and the performances were linked in the biggest events.
A year later, the Tarbais fell to 136th place.
Since April 2021, the machine has stalled.
The tricolor leader thus missed the cuts of the four Grand Slams last season.
His separation last summer with his caddy, the experienced JP Fitzgerald, was a very hard blow for the one who, unlike many others, puts everything in his bag to aim for the heights.
Very solid in his big game, he has suffered in recent months in the short game,
clearly not yet at the level of the world's gratin.
He had seen it during his two appearances in Georgia, where he had not made the cut.
Only eleven French people have played the Masters
Zero French at the Masters.
Not a first.
Far from there.
From 1983 to 2000 for example, there was no tricolor player in Augusta… Let's hope that the blue-white-red eclipse will be shorter this time.
It must be said that French is a rare language in Georgia.
Since 1934, only eleven representatives of French golf have played in the Masters.
This is little.
It must also be said that the Augusta Masters is the most exclusive golf event.
It is a privilege to participate.
To enter the holy of holies, you have to be part of the world's top 50 or even have won the British amateur, for example.
And when some tricolors have succeeded, they have unfortunately not often shone.
Thomas Levet, 13th in 2005
“
We feel that we are part of the golf elite when we participate in the tournament,
blows Grégory Havret, present at Augusta in 2011.
But do not get too carried away.
It's Disneyland.
It's not easy to scatter.
The siren song is everywhere.
It's like an amateur player playing the French Open for the first time.
It's impressive
.”
Albert Pelissier (1952) had thrown in the towel after two laps, Henri de Lamaze (1958), Jean Garaïalde (1964 and 1966) did not make the cut.
Philippe Ploujoux, who was able to play two Masters thanks to his victory at the British Amateur 1981 (1982, 1983), either.
Same sentence for Julien Guerrier (2007) or Grégory Havret, in 2011. The brilliant but intermittent Victor Dubuisson also failed to pass the cut in 2014 and 2015 before finishing 42nd in 2016. Jean Van de Velde, second in the edition 1999 of the British Open, was the first to cross the cut and even finished in a nice 19th place in the 2000 edition. Thomas Levet missed the cut of his first Masters in 2004, but shone the following year with a beautiful 13th place final.
This is to date the best result of a French in a Masters.
Last outstanding performance of a Blue.
That of Romain Langasque, 39th in 2016 with a last card of 68 (-4).
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As three four years ago, in France, on national golf, during the Ryder Cup, France is therefore absent subscribers in the ultimate meeting of the little white ball.
In a country rather devoid of golfing culture and for a long time without a real high-level sports policy, placing a representative in the Masters or the Ryder Cup remains a very rare achievement.
As a reminder, since 1927, the date of the first edition, only Jean Van de Velde (1999), Thomas Levet (2004) and Victor Dubuisson (2014) have joined the European team…
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High-level golf in France is a reality, with, in particular, twenty successes over the past ten years on the European Tour.
France is also one of the best-represented nations in terms of number of players in the top 300 of the world rankings.
But, for now, there is not a single one of our representatives among the top 100.
And those who knocked on the door of the top 100 a few months ago, are not in the form of their life...
"
It's complicated to be in the top 50 when you're only playing on the European tour today,
deciphers Havret.
You have to play on the PGA Tour.
The world points are over there.
The gap has widened further.
".
Relentless statement.
For now, only Paul Barjon is playing on the powerful American circuit.
308th in the world this week, however, he is still far, very far from a presence at the Masters.
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