01피츠패트릭의 선두 사수와 홈 팬 응원 등에 업은 바양의 추격
DP월드투어 대회에서 맷 피츠패트릭(Matt Fitzpatrick)이 리더보드 상단을 지키며 우승을 향한 순항을 이어가고 있다.
자국에서 열린 오픈 대회에 참가한 톰 바양(Tom Vaillant)은 홈 팬들의 뜨거운 응원 속에 매서운 타수 줄이기에 성공하며 피츠패트릭을 바짝 추격하고 있다.
선두 피츠패트릭과 이를 쫓는 바양의 활약 속에 대회 분위기가 고조되고 있으며, 남은 라운드 동안 우승컵을 둘러싼 치열한 선두 경쟁이 펼쳐질 전망이다.
02Original (English) — DP World Tour
Home favourite Tom Vaillant positioned himself as the main challenger to Matt Fitzpatrick going into the final round of the 2026 Open de France.
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A round of 67 left the 24-year-old second on his own at Le Golf National as he seeks a maiden DP World Tour win on the most fitting stage.
Vaillant birdied the third and fourth to get his round up and running, with another at the ninth seeing him out in 33.
Two more birdies at the 15th and 17th sandwiched his only dropped shot of an impressive day and though he still trailed the imperious Fitzpatrick by five strokes, he will go out in the final group on Sunday.
Vaillant went desperately close to another birdie at the last, pulling his cap over his face as his long putt slipped inches by before tapping in for par.
He said: "It was a very nice round. I think I missed only two greens, so that helps. And, yeah, it's an amazing golf course, so I'm trying to enjoy it."
What a reception 💙Tom Vaillant, the lead Frenchman in the field, receives a hero's welcome as he tees off on the first at Le Golf National. 🇫🇷#FedExOpenDeFrance pic.twitter.com/ewHdGvQzd8
Vaillant received a hero's welcome on the first tee and the cheers continued throughout his round, including for his near miss at the last.
"Yeah, that's amazing," he added. "I mean, in many sports I think the French crowd is the best crowd, and today they showed it. So it's fantastic playing at home in front of all the family, friends and all the French golfers, it's amazing.
"Whatever happens tomorrow, it's something I will never forget, the final group here in the French Open. So I'll just try to enjoy it, and we'll see what happens. But the main thing is enjoying tomorrow."
Vaillaint's heroics left him a shot ahead of a group featuring Eugenio Chacarra and Brandon Stone, who produced the lowest rounds of Moving Day.
Stone had three birdies in the first five holes and eight overall as he defied illness to shoot 63, a score later matched by Guido Migliozzi.
The South African said: "I've been struggling with the flu a little bit the last few days. So I didn't wake up feeling particularly fresh this morning.
"I saw a little one per cent recovery in my Whoop (fitness tracker). So I was, 'hmm, I haven't really got any expectations for today'... and just played flawless golf. Just hit it really nicely. Gave myself so many chances, and the putter just worked.
"I don't think I've got many 'one per cent recovery' 63s left in me, but I'll take that one today."
Spaniard Chacarra went one better with a 62, capped by a birdie-eagle finish, and said: "All week I've been playing unbelievable golf, the first couple of rounds the putts didn't want to go in, and today we finally see some putts go in.
"Matt Fitzpatrick is playing great, so I'm kind of far away. But tomorrow is the same thing, try to go as low as possible, play my game, and see where that takes me."
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Rudy Sautron has flown over 4,000 miles from the University of Tennessee to play at his national open at the FedEx Open de France – he is still nearly 6,000 miles from home.