Fantasy Golf Picks & Predictions – 2017 HNA Open de France

European Tour Fantasy Golf Picks and Predictions for the 2017 HNA Open de France

The 2017 HNA Open de France Fantasy Preview

Since the European Tour’s demonic decision to remove the stats page from their website (‘cause nobody uses those, do they fellas!?), making accurate daily fantasy picks has become even harder.

Harder, sure, but not impossible. We still have current and course form to work with, historical course data which can be dug out if you have a keen eye for internet browsing, and of course that gut feeling of who will do well given the unique conditions and course set-up.

But if you want to petition the European Tour to bring back their stats channel then hey, don’t let us stop you.

No number of stats in the world could have predicted Andres Romero winning the BMW International Open last week. The world number 837, who is something of a journeyman these days, has missed his last three cuts worldwide and appeared to be fading into obscurity. But it just goes to show with this game of ours: when it clicks, marvellous things can happen.

There’s an intriguing narrative attached to this week’s event, the Open de France. It will be played as ever at the stunning Le Golf National; the host venue for the 2018 Ryder Cup. Hence why we have a particularly strong European contingent vying for honors, safe in the knowledge that a strong showing here could certainly help their claim for a place on Thomas Bjorn’s roster in a year or so’s time.

That’s why Jon Rahm, surely a shoe-in for selection, is here on a scouting mission and making his European Tour debut. The likes of Francesco Molinari, Bernd Wiesberger, and Alex Noren will fancy their chances of gatecrashing the Dane’s selection plans, while for the likes of Graeme McDowell, Lee Westwood, and Ian Poulter you could argue that a strong showing is essential if they are to have any chance of making the cut.

Le Golf National is sumptuous to look at, with beautiful greenery and water features, and it offers a demanding test via its Par 71, 7,249 yardage. There is minimal tree coverage though, leaving the track quite exposed, and with some rather fruity weather forecast for Paris (rain and stiff winds) this could become a Links-style test in all but name. Indeed, some of the past winners here – think Graeme McDowell, Thongchai Jaidee, and Martin Kaymer – are all excellent Links exponents, so perhaps that is an angle worth exploring.

As for the winners’ make-up, this is a short course but the suggestion is that it won’t be overpowered; as that rogues gallery of former champions attests. Also, it is noticeable that many former winners of this event had delivered a good performance at Le Golf National prior to lifting the trophy (form at Le Golf National prior to winning):

• Bernd Wiesberger: 18-13-47-62
• Martin Kaymer: MC-7
• Graeme McDowell: 17-MC-13
• Thongchai Jaidee: 10-2-MC-15
• Graeme Storm: 21-MC
• Marcel Siem: 52-18

As you can see, all had recorded a top-20 (or damn near it) at Le Golf National prior to winning, so course form has to be a prerequisite this week.

So who will we be drafting for the Open de France?

Let’s dive in…

[membership level=”0″]

Our HNA Open de France Fantasy Picks & Predictions

You must be a Premium Member to view our exclusive fantasy golf picks.

Already a member?  Sign in Here.

[/membership]

[membership level=”1,2,3″]

The HNA Open de France Fantasy Picks

Francesco Molinari – $11,200 – You can make a case for a number of players at the head of the field, and while Jon Rahm’s three missed cuts in four starts is enough to ward us off the Spaniard, it is tough to pick between Francesco Molinari and Bernd Wiesberger for dominance.

We’ve plumped for Molinari primarily because he has performed well on both sides of the Atlantic in the past six months, while the Austrian has mostly enjoyed success in bread-and-butter European Tour golf. The Italian will be desperate to further his Ryder Cup claims here too.

His 15 starts in PGA TOUR events have yielded an incredible eleven top-25 finishes, including T6 at THE PLAYERS Championship. He finished T33 at the Masters and missed the cut at the US Open, but that was at a hardly disastrous +3. Molinari is fast becoming the man for a big occasion.

He finished T2 at another big event in his last European Tour start in the BMW PPGA Championship, and won his home Italian Open too. With an impeccable record at Le Golf National – 10/12 cuts made, eight top-25s, four top-10s – there is so much to like about Molinari’s chances this week.

Joost Luiten – $8,800 – The next rung of players is equally tough to navigate, so we’ll stick to the principles we’ve outlined above and select Joost Luiten as our next pick.

The Dutchman has a pair of top-20s to his name at Le Golf National in his last two starts (T9 last year, T18 prior to that), and heads to France in decent form with T14 at the BMW International Open last week and T7 at the Lyoness Open prior to that.

A five-time European Tour winner, there is nothing particularly special about Luiten’s game other than his laser-like iron play; but that is a key skill to boast this week.

Jamie Donaldson – $7,700 – Boasting a fantastic record at Le Golf National, Donaldson’s recent return to form is rather timely.

The Welshman has gone 7-14 at the Nordea Masters and BMW International Open respectively, and that is very welcome considering the difficulties he has faced in the past 12 months.

And with a pair of top-10 finishes here, plus a T20 and two T21s, now might be the time to open your mind to Donaldson’s upswing.

He is a million miles from Ryder Cup selection of course, but he will be desperate to get back into the blue shirt. Perhaps this will be the start of that journey?

Jaco Van Zyl – $7,500 – A steady point-accumulator this week at an affordable price could well be Van Zyl.

The talented South African has a top-20 to his name at Le Golf National (62-3-MC-37 is his full return), and he heads to France in decent form with a pair of top-20s in BMW events: the PGA Championship (T14) and the International Open (T20).

A prolific winner in his homeland, Van Zyl is yet to get over the line in a European Tour event; but he will, soon enough.

Graeme Storm – $7,100 – It’s only when you get to the brink that you understand what something means to you, and that neatly sums up Graeme Storm’s golfing outlook in the past year or so.

After only reclaiming his European Tour card by the skin of his teeth, Storm has made his second chance count this season. He won the BMW SA Open in January a month after finishing in the top five of the Alfred Dunhill Championship, and his form since has – by and large – remained intact. Top 20s at the BMW PGA Championship and Lyoness Open are testament to that.

So ignoring the missed cuts at Le Golf National which came about when his game was in the mud, instead focus on Storm’s finishes here when in high spirits: a winner in 2009, he has also notched four other top-20s and a pair of T21 returns, playing there each year since 2007. Few know this course quite like Graeme Storm.

David Lipsky – $6,900 – With so many appetizing propositions at the head of the listings for the Open de France, finding decent picks at value prices is key in balancing the books. And they don’t come much more reliable than David Lipsky.

The American has made 15 of his last 16 cuts, and in that time has landed seven top-25 returns; six of which are actually top-tens.

Second at the Maybank Championship and fifth at the Shenzhen International, Lipsky’s good form continued at the BMW International Open last time out with T10, and there is absolutely no reason why he cannot massively outperform that $6,900 price tag.

[/membership]

Cover photo via Instagram