Thomas Levet first played Le Golf National course a short drive from his home in Paris as a 17-year-old, long before his children were born. They were there today, 25 years on, to witness their father win the French Open title for the first time.
A final round of 70, punctuated by a string of outlandish putts, helped the Frenchman card a seven-under-par score of 277, one stroke clear of Denmark’s Thorbjorn Olesen and overnight leader Mark Foster of England.
The world No 352 secured a berth at the British Open last month and now he can add to that prize a winner's cheque worth more than £442,000, but Levet focussed on revelling in the sweetest moment of his career, a sixth European Tour title and his first since winning the Spanish Open in 2009.
“It was just crazy – the way it went was just like a dream,” said the Paris-born 42-year-old after Olesen missed a four-foot par putt on the final hole. When Foster left a 20-foot birdie putt that would have forced a play-off short, the dream became a reality.
It may prove to be a captain’s performance. The course, a short distance from Versailles, will host the 2018 Ryder Cup and Levet, a member of the triumphant European team of 2004, is tipped to lead the continent in his home town.
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“The people were going ‘allez, allez, allez’ and some of them go ‘captain, captain’. The atmosphere was great – I felt like one of the Tour de France riders climbing a mountain.
“I had everyone behind me basically the same as a Ryder Cup and it was the same adrenaline rush. I was reaching distances I’ve never reached before, but with experience I knew it was going to happen.
“It’s the first time my kids have seen me win – I’m not done yet.”
Foster and fellow Englishman James Morrison let their overnight lead slip to give Levet, Scotland Richie Ramsay and Martin Kaymer hope. Morrison in particular faded early while Foster parred the first 11 holes, but found himself trailing Levet after dropping three shots in two holes at the 12th and 13th, as he had in the final holes a day earlier to surrender the outright lead.
In front of him Levet, inspired by a huge and enthusiastic gallery, claimed his fourth birdie of the round, tempered by two early bogies, and would not be caught despite Olesen and Foster's last-ditch efforts. "It was close, really close," said Olesen, also runner-up at the BMW Italian Open in Turin. "I thought I hit a good putt on the last but hopefully next time I can win."
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There was consolation for the 21-year-old Tour rookie in the form of direct entry to the Open at Foster’s expense. Levet, the runner-up to Ernie Els in the 2002 Open after a five-hole play-off at Muirfield, qualified last month, leaving Olesen to take the spot for Royal St George’s ahead of the Englishman by virtue of his higher world ranking.
Kaymer carded a 73 to take fourth and ensure he reclaims the world No 3 ranking surrendered last week to US Open champion Rory McIlroy. Ramsay finished fifth, level with England’s Simon Kahn, after also closing with a 73.