French challenge beckons after the tough American trip

It’s great to be back in the thick of action after a short break following the US Open at Chambers Bay. The US Open was a real tough one with even the seasoned players facing the brunt of a brutal and very demanding course, but then I suppose that’s what Majors are all about – a stern challenge. And Jordan Spieth came out with a capital show.

After US Open I went back home for a break to Bangalore and it also coincided with my birthday and time with my family meant a lot. That has also helped me relax mentally and physically and of course my coach, Vijay Divecha and I discussed and worked on a few things, too.

Now with The Open coming up at St Andrews, another historic course, it is time for Europe. The Open de France will be followed by the Scottish Open and then the third Major of the year.

The Le National Golf Club is a famous one, where the 2018 Ryder Cup will be played and as has been the routine this year, it will be my first time at this event and course, so naturally I am looking forward to this one, too. It is on the outskirts of Paris, about 35-40km away and it is a great place. Well, Paris, itself is great and we love it.

The weather, I have been told, has been dry and there’s been very little rain and that there will be moderate winds. The greens are a mix of meadow and bent grass, so I am somewhat used to that, while the roughs will be tough with a mix of fescue and rye. And the greens will be fast, so one has to keep that in mind. Water will also come into play at this Par-71 course, which is longer than 7,300 yards.

Jeev Milkha Singh and Shiv Kapur will be around as well and it is always nice to have some one to chat and learn from and both are quite experienced and great guys to be around with. The first two days, I am grouped with Francesco Molinari and Gary Stal.

The Le National has three courses, the championships course called Albatros (with a single ‘s’ as the French spell it); the Aigle (Eagle) and Oiselet (Birdie) course, which is nine-hole.