France it was this week for the French Open at Golf National. This is a popular week with the players as it's such a good golf course, as well as having good practice facilities and being a well run event. This will be a great venue for the Ryder Cup 2018.
Tuesday was busy day. I was at the course for 8am to walk a few with Michael Hoey. Michael was playing with Matteo Mannasero, so it was great to watch 'Manny' at close quarters. He was very impressive as well. He shows unbelievable maturity as golfer for somebody of that age.
With Mike was spent some time looking at his green reading and how best he lines up on breaking putts to make sure his processes maximise his ever improving mechanics.
After 9 holes with Mike it was off to the Practice putting green to see Darren Clarke with whom who I hadn't seen for a few weeks. We spent some time working on a few drills to help Darren improve his starting line as he had been hitting a few pulls of late.
I also spent some time with Joost Luiten who finished 3 rd last week in Munich, his best result so far this season. Joost's stroke was looking good, he felt he left a few out there last week but it was more down to pace control and green reading. Martin his caddie is also helping him line up at present to help give him the confidence of where he is aiming so he can then trust his aim and stroke.
Ollie Fisher was stroking the ball really well and is looking good on the greens. I sense that Ollie could be about to turn his form around. In the afternoon I walked a few holes on the course with Thomas Bjorn. Thomas was looking good, and just needs a run of events now to show the form he had earlier on the in the year. The last few months he has played very little golf due to poor health and the loss of his father.
On Wednesday I walked 9 holes with Chris Wood. We spent some time focusing on his pace control and lag putting as that hasn't been up to his expectations of late.
I also spent some time with Gareth Maybin this week for the first time. He asked me to have a look at him as he felt like he could improve his putting. We spent some time on the green and I gave him a few things to work on. It will be interesting to catch up with him next week in Scotland to see how it progressed.
Finally on the afternoon I spent same time with David Horsey. He often likes to come up late on a Wednesday when it's gone quiter to get some work done. We spent some doing some pace drills to get the speed of the greens and then some competitive holing out drills to help prepare for the mindset of play rather than practice. David as ever was looking good.
That's all from France, next week I will be at the Scottish Open in Inverness. Looking forward to that.
