US Open champion Rory McIlroy has pulled out of next week's French Open, as had been expected, Sky Sports reports. Golf's newest major winner has decided not to compete in Paris. McIlroy's compatriot Graeme McDowell made exactly the same decision after he won the same title last year. The Northern Irishman decided to let his huge victory sink in rather than race back to action, and it is though McIlroy wants to do the same. The 22-year-old champion has pencilled in his return for the Open at Sandwich on July 14-17. World number three Martin Kaymer is left as the only top-10 player in the field and only nine from the top 50 will compete, including American left-hander Bubba Watson who makes his first start in a non-major in Europe. The event takes place from June 30 to July 3 on Le Golf National course near Paris, the venue for the 2018 Ryder Cup.
Is this realy the best preparation for the Open, surely he would have wanted to have got some match practice back in before the Open, I noticed McIlroy was at Wimbledon for most of the week, and also in Germany for the David Haye fight, so I wonder how much Golf he has played since the US Open. I would be concerned that he may be a little rusty going into the Open, it doesn't matter how much natural ability he has, you can't just show up after 3 weeks of hardly any practice and expect to win. Rather than copy McDowell, who won the US Open then spent months celebrating, which did affect his performances. He should instead take note of Padraig Harrington who's first thought after winning his first major was to win another. At the end of the day if the lad wants to enjoy himself and celebrate his win, then it's down to him, but I would be concerned about a US open hangover from McIlroy in the Open. I was going to have a bet on him for the tournament, but I think I may reconsider
Thomas Levet won the French Open, did the traditional dive into the lake...and broke his leg. [video=youtube;VqY1sISIx2A]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VqY1sISIx2A[/video] Colin 'Mr. Sensible' Montgomerie isn't happy and calls for this silly nonsense to end.