As Victor Perez pointed out after his 68 on Saturday, ” Thanks to Rasmus for getting us all back in the tournament. “Starting with a six-stroke lead on Saturday morning after a stratospheric start to the tournament (62-65), the Dane Rasmus Hojgaard drowned on the Albatross attack. Six rendering points, before being reborn and then taking control of the tournament, with a self-control matched only by his ease on the Yvelines route.
It all started with three balls in the water of hole 2, whose wet green turned into a soapy ball this Saturday backspin. A catastrophic quintuple bogey for the 160th in the world, who will lose a new ball on the next hole, from a blocked drive on the right.
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Only two players in the top 27 of the standings did not play under par on Saturday. Robert MacIntyre (71) and Rasmus Hojgaard (74).
Quickly joined in the lead then a time exceeded by Paul Barjon author of a birdie on this same third hole, Hojgaard nevertheless quickly regained his senses, with two points recovered on 6 then on 8. A go in 40 shots (+4) finally not so terrible considering the broth swallowed during the first half hour of play.
With a convincing return (three birdies 11, 14, and 17, on a 10m putt) and two bogeys at 12 then at 18 (wise refocusing after a drive in the rough), the recent course record holder still manages to make a card of 74. His lead is certainly only one stroke over George Coetzee (68), but this almost unexpected total of -12 on the tee of 4 could finally make him even stronger, before the final sprint of sunday.
Three French in the top 10
Starting in 2nd place, Paul Barjon and his shy 70 on Saturday did not fully take advantage of the door reopened before his eyes by Hojgaard. Neither a windless Albatross nor firm greens. But his final birdie associated with the Dane’s last bogey finally gave him a positive momentum (3rd, with Thomas Pieters).
« Day without too much birdie, difficult on the greens, reacted the Frenchman. As for Hojgaard’s accident, we don’t wish it on anyone and luckily for me, I had played before him so it didn’t impact me too much. Personally, I am in the race and I will continue to play aggressive. I have nothing to lose this week, it’s win or nothing! “The now ex-player of the PGA Tour points in -10, two shots from the head.
Card of 69 for Antoine Rozner, who appears for his part only three shots from Hojgaard. ” Anything can still happen tomorrow (Sunday) and I remain patient. The Albatross is so hard to manage and as we have seen again today, we must never stop believing in it. I am in the hunter position and we will do the accounts at the end. The Parisian lost a place with his 69 but remains in the top 5, in fifth place alongside the German Yannik Paul (67).
On the side of the young Tricolores, good performances from the three titular players of the recent world amateur. Tom Vaillant climbs to 12th place (68, -6). Ten rows further and with the same card, Julien Sale points in -4, while Martin Couvra is 28th in -3, also with a 68. Substitute in this team of France, Oihan Guillamoundeguy loses 16 places on Saturday (72), but remains tied with Couvra.
