Our Blog - Ryder Cup 2018 Thursday Practice Round
One thing that the golf course has is a wall of golf balls ... the Open de France golf tournament, which has been played at this course since 1991 (except for 2 years), is the the oldest national open in Continental Europe. The first tournament was held in 1906. Here you can see the ball from the winner in 1906, Arnaud Massey, when it was played at La Boulie golf club.
Thursday was the warmest day of the tournament and the European team had switched into yellow shirts. You can see a set of the players heading down the fairway with a couple of the caddies. Leading off today were the group of Rory McIlroy (without a hat), Francesco Molinari (2nd from left between the caddies), Thorbjørn Olesen (next to McIlroy) and Ian Poulter (in the visor to the right).
Then Jon Rahm, Tommy Fleetwood, Justin Rose (5-picture sequence), and Henrik Stenson in group two. Then walking off, Fleetwood (with the long hair), Rahm (middle) and Stenson.
A couple vice captains were walking along with the group ... Graeme McDowell (facing us) and then the one on the left in the 2nd picture is Padraig Harrington.
Last group of Europeans were Tyrrell Hatton (no hat showing the swing sequence), Paul Casey, Sergio Garcia, and Alex Noren.
Unfortunately, I didn't get that many great pictures as I was quite a ways away ... here is Rory, and then Jon Rahm with his putter while Tommy Fleetwood is in the background. I got a nice close-up of Jon Rahm practicing chipping, and then Stenson putting.
What I assume was the French Air Force did a few fly-overs trailing red, white, and blue smoke ... basically showing the flag of France.
Today was also the Opening Ceremony, where all of the players came in along with the captains and vice captains (and of course, wives/girlfriends). We were a LONG way away from the screens, not wanting to attempt to pack ourselves in with our 50,000 closest friends. But they did have a nice setup in what they called the West Village, with the stage and 2 giant screens.
