If you’re not a European Tour aficionado, you might want to get up early for the next three Saturdays — it will be well worth it.
The European Tour begins its run to The Open Championship at Carnoustie in four weeks and there’s some great courses in store.
This Rolex Series of events has big money, $7 million Euros, big money on a tour where if you win a lot you get rich slowly, unlike the PGA Tour where one good season sets you up for life.
This week is the Open de France and the setting is Le Golf National outside Paris, site of the Ryder Cup matches later this fall, which makes it a must-watch.
The next week is the Irish Open, hosted by Rory “I can’t play in the wind” McIlroy. That will be at Ballyliffin, outside Donegal.
Then comes the Scottish Open at Gullane, a really neat golf course about 75 miles from St. Andrews in East Lothian. You’ll see a lot of Americans in the field. They go over early to acclimate themselves to the time change and links golf.
Then on to Carnoustie for the 147th Open Championship!
There were some pre-France fireworks on Sunday at the BMW International in Germany. Denmark’s Thorbjorn “Thunder Bear” Olesen shot a final round 61, threatening once again but failing in an attempt to post 59 in a European Tour event. No one’s ever done that.
Olesen’s furious rally — nine birdies and an eagle — came up a shot short of winner Matt Wallace from the U.K. Wallace won with 10-under at the Gut Laerchenhof outside Cologne.
It was a career round for Olesen and a single-round record for the BMW International.
There will be more to come in the next three weeks over in Europe. Great viewing for early risers — a good way to start your weekends as well.
