Open de France Golf Betting Tips: Back a home favourite at a new venue

With so much attention on next week's Ryder Cup, it shouldn't be overlooked that one of golf's oldest championships takes place in Paris this week.

The historic Open de France, first played way back in 1906, has been a regular fixture at Le Golf National on the outskirts of Paris since the early '90s, but the tournament has a different home this year.

The 2018 Ryder Cup venue makes way for Golf de Saint-Nom-La-Breteche, a classic resort opened in the mid-50s that is around a half-hour drive west from Paris.

This par-71 layout, which now measures a touch under 7,000 yards, has hosted the Open de France a few times in the past, but not since 1982 when a certain Severiano Ballesteros cruised to a four-shot win over Sandy Lyle, who was defending champion that year.

Sir Nick Faldo (x3), Greg Norman and Bernhard Langer are among the other legends of the sport who have won this title, and we could actually have a winner of that pedigree this week, but only if Brooks Koepka finds his A game and not play like the C-minus we've seen from the five-time major champion in recent weeks.

Let's have a look at a couple of players most likely to succeed.

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Open de France betting tips

Outright pick

Adrien Saddier

Best odds:

Recent form:

T33 - T5 - 2

Adrien Saddier has had a career-best season on the DP World Tour.

The Frenchman has been a pro since 2013, and he finally landed his first Tour victory at the Italian Open in June, claiming a two-shot win over Martin Couvra in his 200th start on Tour.

But Saddier has had a handful of other chances to add to his trophy cabinet, playing himself into pole position only to falter on the final day.

He went close in India in March, a final-round 74 consigning him to a disappointing fifth place finish, and it was a similar story at the Amgen Irish Open earlier this month.

He led heading into the final round at The K Club, but he did not make a birdie until the final hole of an error-ridden Sunday, and another 74 led to another fifth place as he left the stage clear for Rory McIlroy to produce his magic.

But Saddier bounced back to claim another share of a 54-hole lead at last week’s BMW PGA Championship, and this time his final-day performance at a wet and breezy Wentworth was roughly what he would have hoped for.

After pars at every hole on the front-nine, he made four birdies on the inward run to keep pace with playing-partner Alex Noren, only to lose out to the Swedish veteran on the first playoff hole.

Saddier, now third on the Race to Dubai, will look to atone on home soil, and he has a decent record at Le Golf National. He’s only failed to cash once since his debut 11 years ago, and he’s been T18 and T16 over the last two years.

Outright pick

Harry Hall

Best odds:

Recent form:

6 - T17 - T13

Many felt Harry Hall was deserving of a Ryder Cup pick, but that would have been a bold move from Luke Donald.

Throwing a rookie into the cauldron of Bethpage Black was not in the European captain's game plan, but there will surely be more chances for Hall further down the line.

The boy can play, no doubt. He's been a model of consistency again this year apart from a brief wobble in the spring, when he missed three cuts in four starts.

Since then, he's cashed in every event, posting three top-10s while qualifying for the elite 30-man Tour Championship without appearing to shed much sweat!

Hall's biggest strength is on the greens, and I'm expecting the short game to be a big factor this week. 

The 28-year-old is second in the Strokes Gained - Putting stats on the PGA Tour in 2025, and his proficiency with the flatstick should continue to serve him well for years to come.

Hall has finished inside the top-20 in seven of his last nine starts, including a T13 at last week's BMW PGA Championship, and it's high time he added another win to his resume.

I may have been tempted to swerve the classy Englishman had the tournament returned to Le Golf National, but moving to a different venue levels the playing field and ups his chances.

Outsider pick

Rafa Cabrera Bello

Best odds:

Recent form:

T43 - MC - T3

What a joy it was watching Rafa Cabrera Bello go to work at the Amgen Irish Open a couple of weeks ago.

The veteran Spaniard lit up the final day at The K Club with a sensational hole-in-one on the third hole, and he was in the mix for the title throughout the round.

Now 41, he is still armed with one of the most underrated swings in golf. The smooth tempo and rhythm are an excellent match for his temperament, and if he can get on a roll with the putter, he'll be a dangerous outsider.

Cabrera Bello has a knack for producing big performances when you least expect it, and his form in Ireland will be the ideal confidence booster for a big finish to the DP World Tour season.

Currently 67th in the Race to Dubai, he will look to build on his result at the Irish Open this week, and he's well rested having not endured a punishing week at Wentworth.

Rafa is worthy of an each-way nibble in France, and 90/1 for a player of his class and experience is hard to overlook.