FedEx Open de France: A Return to a Transformed Le Golf National

The DP World Tour returns to Le Golf National after a one-year hiatus. From September 24 to 27, the FedEx Open de France —the oldest national open on the European continent—will be held in Guyancourt, just outside Paris. The focus is on a new venue, a strong international field of competitors, and the first qualifying opportunity for the 2027 Open Championship.

The tournament will be played over four rounds of stroke play. The Albatros Course measures 7,365 yards and is played as a Par 71. A total of $3.25 million in prize money and 5,000 ranking points are up for grabs.

Here you’ll find the tee times and live scoring for the DP World Tour’s Open de France.

Le Golf National Returns with Changes

After a one-year hiatus, the longtime host venue has been partially redesigned. The break was due to extensive construction work related to the expansion of Paris Metro Line 18. In the future, a station is set to be built just about 300 meters from the clubhouse.

Holes four, five, and six of the Albatros Course were particularly affected. Architect Russell Talley gave the holes more movement, elevation changes, and strategic options. The fourth hole now winds around a protective hill to an elevated green. The fifth hole was designed as a right-dogleg and ends at an elevated green with sweeping views across the course. The sixth hole was given a split Fairway, additional Bunkers, and a narrow, elevated green.

A total of 17 new Bunkers were added. In addition, the greens on holes one, two, nine, and 18, among others, were redesigned, lake shores were reshaped, and additional tees were built. The goal is to make the course suitable for both top-tier international tournaments and daily play.

For defending champion Michael Kim, this return therefore presents a special challenge. The American won the 2025 Open de France on his debut, but now returns to a course that has changed significantly since last year.

Michael Kim Defends His Title

Kim won last year’s tournament with a strong finish. After making a Birdie from about 40 feet on the second hole, he initially stayed within striking distance before making crucial Birdies on holes 16 and 17. On the final hole, he sealed the victory with a successful up-and-down from the Bunker and a Par Putt from about 16 feet.

For Kim, it was his first victory on the DP World Tour. This was followed by, among other achievements, a top-ten finish at the DP World Tour India Championship and a spot in the DP World Tour Championship. On the PGA Tour this season, he turned heads with a 59 at the 3M Open. Before returning to France, Kim tied for 24th place at the inaugural Biltmore Championship in Asheville. Now he must defend his title for the first time under changed course conditions.

European Ryder Cup players lead the field

The field is led by several prominent European players. The three highest-ranked participants in the world rankings are:

• Matt Fitzpatrick, world No. 4
• Tommy Fleetwood, world No. 9
• Viktor Hovland, world No. 13

Also entered is Sweden’s Ludvig Åberg, currently ranked 18th in the world. All four players will travel to France immediately after the BMW PGA Championship.

The international field also includes PGA Tour winners Kristoffer Reitan, Ryan Gerard, Cameron Smith, and Bud Cauley. Scott Jamieson and Eugenio Chacarra —two players who have recently won tournaments on the DP World Tour—are also in the field.

Several former Open de France champions are also in the field. In addition to defending champion Kim, they include:

• Dan Bradbury, winner of the last edition at Le Golf National before the hiatus
• Guido Migliozzi, 2023 champion
• Tommy Fleetwood, 2017 champion
• Marcel Siem, the 2012 champion

Strong French Lineup

Among the hosts competing are Matthieu Pavon and Adrien Saddier. Other French players in the field include Julien Guerrier, Antoine Rozner, Romain Langasque, Frédéric Lacroix, Victor Perez, Jeong-Weon Ko, and Ugo Coussaud.

They’ll be joined by several young French talents, including Martin Couvra, Oihan Guillamoundeguy, and Tom Vaillant. For them, the tournament offers the chance to hold their own against established players on a major international stage.

Golf and Sustainability

In addition to the sporting competition, the tournament is once again placing an emphasis on sustainability this year. As part of a partnership between FedEx and the Arbor Day Foundation, ten trees will be planted for every Birdie on the par-3 16th hole. In addition, 500 trees are scheduled to be planted on farmland in Noisy-le-Roi. Further funds will support reforestation projects in French regions affected by wildfires.

Even the search for golf balls in the man-made lakes at Le Golf National serves a good cause. The recovered balls will be resold. The proceeds will go toward golf programs for women recovering from illness or hospitalization. As the tournament’s official charity, FFGreen supports these projects. In addition, a donation of 10,000 euros is earmarked for habitat restoration efforts.

Following the wildfires in several French regions, firefighters will also be invited to the tournament with free tickets.

First Qualifying Opportunity for the 2027 Open Championship

The FedEx Open de France also marks the start of the Qualifying Series for the 155th Open Championship in St. Andrews. The top player who does not yet have a spot in the field and makes the cut will earn a spot in the 2027 Open Championship.

In total, the Qualifying Series comprises 19 tournaments in 15 countries and spans several international Tours. In addition to the PGA Tour and the DP World Tour, these include the Korn Ferry Tour, the Asian Tour, the Japan Golf Tour, the Sunshine Tour, and the Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia.

In the current field, Åberg, Fitzpatrick, Fleetwood, and Hovland have already qualified for the next Open Championship. For many other players, Le Golf National thus offers not only the chance to win the tournament but also a direct path to St. Andrews.

A Tournament with Multiple Storylines

This year’s FedEx Open de France brings together several sporting narratives: Michael Kim must defend his title on a redesigned course, Europe’s top players are set to face off again following the BMW PGA Championship, and the French and German participants will be in the spotlight in front of their home and regional audiences, respectively.

With the redesigned Le Golf National, a prize purse of $3.25 million, a strong international field, and the first qualifying spot for the 2027 Open Championship, this DP World Tour event offers far more than just another stop on the calendar. The key question is which player will best adapt to the new strategic challenges of the Albatros Course.