Frenchman Matthieu Pavon won the Farmers Insurance Open at Torrey Pines (California, United States) on Saturday, a historic and unprecedented feat for French golf on the PGA circuit in the modern era. Pavon, aged 31, won in only his third tournament on the North American professional circuit which he joined this season thanks to the fifth place snatched at the end of last year at the DP World Tour Championship in Dubai.
“I have no words, it’s incredible, I have the impression that there is still one round left tomorrow (Sunday)”, he declared, his voice trembling, at the microphone of the broadcaster CBS Sports . “It’s the greatest moment of my career, I’ve dreamed of it since I was a child. It’s been a long road. I waited seven years on the main European circuit to achieve my first victory, and I’m already winning in America. It’s just exceptional.”
“Off to a good start” for the Olympics
Pavon’s victory is the first for a Frenchman on the PGA for 117 years, the circuit announced on its X account (ex-Twitter). The son of footballer Michel Pavon (Toulouse, Montpellier, Bordeaux) allows French golf to continue its golden period, after the exceptional year 2023 of Céline Boutier, winner of her first major tournament in Evian, and finished in 3rd place in the world. The French will have the opportunity to shine at home at the Paris Olympic Games (July 26 – August 11). “It’s one of my goals this year to qualify and represent my country in Paris. We can say that we’re off to a good start,” smiled Pavon at the press conference.
Matthieu Pavon returned a card of 69 on Saturday (3 under par) for a total of 275, one stroke less than the Dane Nicolai Hojgaard and two less than the German Stephan Jaeger and the Americans Jake Knapp and Nate Lashley. The Frenchman secured his victory at the end of a suspenseful finale in California, after entering the final day in second place in the provisional ranking, one stroke behind Jaeger.
Placed in the last part, he was carried by a magnificent go (-3 under par after nine holes including four birdies) to take the lead and be two shots ahead of the competition by presenting himself at N.16 (par 3), that he got off to a bad start in a bunker. After an average sand exit, a long and superb putt allowed him to snatch par. A magnificent shot wasted by a bogey on a missed short putt at N.17 (par 4), enough to present itself with a single stroke lead at the 18th and last hole under pressure from the Dane Nicolai Hojgaard, in his game.
Pavon got off to a bad start on his last hole of the weekend by falling into the rough, before coming out with class on the 3rd shot and sinking the following putt for a victorious birdie on this par 5. The golfer from the South-West concluded a magnificent month of January after finishing 7th in Hawaii in mid-January for his first PGA tournament. He won his first tournament on the European tour in October 2023 in Madrid.
“This title proved to me that I was capable of great things. It gave me confidence. With my team, we do everything necessary to be competitive at the highest level.” “I had almost no pressure coming to North America. It’s just an opportunity. If I fail I can go back to Europe and start again. I enjoy every moment here, they are precious moments”, – he added. With his victory, the Frenchman, 78th in the world before this week, will make a jump in the rankings and has opened the doors to the biggest tournaments this season.
Farmers Insurance Open tournament final standings (after four rounds, par 72):
- 1.Matthieu Pavon (FRA) -13 (69-65-72-69)
- 2. Nicolai Hoejgaard (DEN) -12 (67-66-73-70)
- 3.Stephan Jäger (GER) -11 (68-64-73-72)
- Jake Knapp (USA) -11 (69-69-70-69)
- Nate Lashley (USA) -11 (73-67-70-67)
- 6.Tony Finau (USA) -10 (69-66-74-69)
- Beau Hossler (USA) -10 (68-70-72-68)
- Yu Chun An (TWN) -10 (64-74-73-67)
- 9.Ludvig Aberg (SWE) -9 (68-72-69-70)
- Taylor Pendrith (CAN) -9 (73-66-69-71)
- Patrick Rodgers (USA) -9 (73-64-73-69)
- Xander Schauffele (USA) -9 (69-68-72-70)
2024-01-28 09:28:31
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