01새로운 변수로 떠오른 르 골프 나시오날 코스 리노베이션
세계적인 골프 대회 개최지로 유명한 프랑스의 르 골프 나시오날(Le Golf National)에 새롭게 조성된 홀들을 두고 선수들의 다양한 반응이 이어지고 있다.
이번 코스 개편으로 추가되거나 변경된 홀들은 선수들에게 한층 더 높아진 난이도와 새로운 전략적 선택을 요구하고 있다.
대회에 참가한 선수들은 신설 홀의 특성과 그린 상태를 정밀하게 파악하며, 경기 승패를 가릴 중요한 승부처가 될 것으로 전망하고 있다.
02Original (English) — DP World Tour
After nearly two years of transformation, the FedEx Open de France is back at a new-look Le Golf National this week.
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Situated on the outskirts of Versailles, near Paris, the world-renowned venue - part of European Tour Destinations - closed shortly after the 2024 edition of Continental Europe's oldest national open.
The biggest changes to the Albatros course, brought on by the expansion of the greater Paris underground, are the redesigned fourth, fifth and sixth holes.
And while further enhancements have been made in the way of green remodelling and redesigned bunkers, the reimagined three-hole stretch on the front nine is naturally a source of discussion among players as they go about their preparations.
READ MORE
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• Michael Kim expecting 'intimidating' Le Golf National test on title defence in France
• Viktor Hovland excited to take on Le Golf National at FedEx Open de France
Before we get the thoughts from some of the players ahead of the event, let's run you through what's changed at the 2018 Ryder Cup and 2024 Olympic Games golf competition venue.
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As a result of a wide mound being required to the right of the fourth, to protect the metro line and a new public footpath, the fairway and green of the hole shifted to the left.
The product is a dogleg left with a raised green, which in turn led to a knock-on to fifth and six holes.
The fifth is a dogleg right from an elevated tee to the original fairway, with the green relocated to a high point providing excellent views across the course.
A split fairway and the addition of some fairway bunkers strengthen the challenge, while the elevated green is narrow from front to back.
Across the three holes, 17 bunkers have been added from the original layout.
Making his Open de France debut but has experience at Le Golf National from the 2024 Olympic Games representing Sweden and as an amateur at the World Amateur Team Championships in 2022
It's a golf course where obviously you have to hit good golf shots. You can't scrap it around and expect to get away from it.
Four was a really strong golf hole, which it still is. Obviously, it feels like it's always playing a little bit into the wind.
I thought five and six were great golf holes the way they were before. I thought with the skinny fairways and a wedge in your hand, I thought you still had to hit really good golf shots, but it would also give you an opportunity.
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I think today, obviously, the fairway is a little bit wider on five, a little bit wider on six.
But, you know, the characteristics are still there. Obviously, the greens have changed a little bit. Five used to be a little bit different to the way it is now. But I still think the characteristics and the identity of the golf course is still there.
I love courses like this where it's right in front of you and you know what to do, but you just have to execute. And if you do, you get rewarded; and if you don't, you're going to get punished.
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Making his third appearance at his national open, while he also played in the World Amateur Team Championships for France in 2022
I checked out the course maybe one month ago. It looks very nice. I love the change on the fourth and the fifth. It's quite different, but really nice. The fifth is thought to be really difficult now.
I really liked the sixth, but the new one is still all right. Even when we play from the front tee, it's going to be really, really nice. I'm looking forward to play it in the tournament, but it's a nice one.
(Set for his fourth consecutive appearance on home soil)
The fourth is very different to what knew. We still have those huge hills on the right where you don't want to be, but it's a tighter fairway once you hit a full drive. It's quite a long hole actually, 500 yards so I'm seeing a hole where you need a good driver actually.
It's a very narrow green as well, so it's a tough hole for sure. It was already tough, but it's still one. You have to play a bit further away from the hills because it's bad, but left is not the best as well. Honestly, I miss a few of the old bunkers on the left. The hole was nice with those hilly bunkers, now it's a little too flat. I guess when this rough has grown, it's going to be a tough one. Overall, it's a different challenge to what we had.
News
Michael Kim is preparing for a step up in challenge as he makes his first defence of a DP World Tour title at the FedEx Open de France.