Larrazabal leads Ryder Cup stars in French Open
Colin Montgomerie and Lee Westwood, two of Europe’s big guns, were unable to stop little-known Pablo Larrazabal taking a three-stroke lead into the final round of the French Open.
Ranked only 481st in the world and a qualifier for the event, Larrazabal produced a superb four-under-par 67 after reaching halfway sharing top spot with England’s David Lynn at Le Golf National near Paris.
Now the 25-year-old from Barcelona, playing just his 17th European Tour event, is 11 under with Montgomerie and Dane Soren Hansen his closest challengers and then Westwood and Lynn one further back.
“I saw the names Monty and Westwood – I love to shoot lower than those,” he said.
“I’m not the star of the tournament. I came from the pre-qualifying. There are 156 players and I am maybe the 150th best, but that’s not a problem for me.
“If I play like I did today it’s going to be fun. I hit the ball great.”
A first prize of almost £528,000 (€668,396), a two-year tour exemption and a place in the coming Open Championship at Royal Birkdale is there for Larrazabal’s taking - but the hardest part has still to come.
“The hardest part of trying for your first win is to have patience during a round,” said Montgomerie, 45 last Monday and suddenly back in the spotlight after a slide outside the world’s top 100.
“You tend to want to go for things and this course is very demanding on you mentally.”
Then he remembered his first tour victory back in 1989. “I was four ahead and broke the course record with a 63,” he added.
Westwood said of Larrazabal: “He’s done well and looks a good player. It’s never easy when you have the lead overnight, so well done to him.
“Now he has another night thinking about it.”
