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Words: Paul Prendergast
Photo: Mark Wilson – Golfplus Media
| Rory McIlroy might be drawing thousands of eyeballs to the Crown Australian Open in his first start in Australia since 2014 but, there’s another European making his own return to these shores after a nine-year absence with his own ambitions to do the same. Frenchman Romain Langasque performed brilliantly in front of the many thousands who saw him on his last trip but, it’s questionable how many will remember that they did. Back in 2016, Langasque represented France at the World Cup of Golf staged at Kingston Heath, partnered with Victor Dubuisson. The now retired Dubuisson had earned his share of some of the star billing on show at the event, having won twice in as many years on the DP World Tour and famously finishing runner-up to Jason Day at the 2014 WGC-Dell Matchplay event in Scottsdale. Few will forget some of the short game miracles he pulled from his repertoire, some directly from the Arizona desert scrub, to run the Australian right to the wire. Langasque was not entirely an obscure selection as he’d won the 2014 British Amateur title and had played in both The Open and Masters before he arrived at Kingston Heath. However, his appearance was definitely attributable to a selection process that gave the higher ranked player (Dubuisson) their choice of playing partner for the Fourball-Foursomes format that year. Langasque had only recently turned professional and had just earned his card to play the DP World Tour event as a full member. The introverted Dubuisson created a bit of a stir in French golf circles by overlooking other higher ranked players to select Langasque, who he felt more comfortable with as a friend as both originated from similar regions in the south of France. Dubuisson’s strategy ultimately proved to be on point. On an electric final day, the pair wowed galleries on the way to a final round 63 to finish in a tie for second behind the winning Denmark team, alongside China and the powerful U.S. pairing of Rickie Fowler and reigning PGA champion Jimmy Walker. Flushed with confidence and a significant pay cheque, Langasque’s first DP World Tour event as a member came the following week at the Australian PGA Championship at Royal Pines, where he finished in a creditable tie for 10th place behind winner, Harold Varner III. Fast forward to 2025, and the Frenchman is back and has brought with his best mate down to caddie and enjoy the ride. “It’s been a long time coming. I wanted to come back but it’s always tough with the schedule the way it is. I’m very happy to be here and I’ll be coming back next year too because it’s at Kingston Heath.” The Australian Open marks the 30-year-old’s 225th DP World Tour start and he lists a win at the 2020 ISPS HANDA Wales Open and a share of the course record at the Old Course at St Andrews with an 11-under par 61 (which included a bogey) in the 2022 Alfred Dunhill Links Championship, as some of the highlights on his growing CV. He arrived at Royal Melbourne ranked 190th on the Official World Golf Rankings, having just missed the season-ending DP World Tour Championship in Dubai after finishing 63rd in the Race to Dubai rankings last season. “I knew that this tournament would be great because Rory was coming and it was at Royal Melbourne.” Langasque said after his opening round. “If we put aside the money side of things, it feels like a major. There’s 25,000 people here, the course is amazing, it’s in great shape and everything is organised very well. There are people everywhere.” Langasque clearly still holds a soft spot in his heart for Kingston Heath but was looking forward to seeing how Royal Melbourne will evolve heading into the weekend. “It’s wider here off the tee than at Kingston Heath, a different golf course. I can’t wait for tomorrow and the weekend as I’m sure they’ll get it rock hard and it’s going to be a different test of golf.” Although he raced a long birdie try a good 4 metres past the pin on his final hole, a saving par putt left the Frenchman at a respectable one-over 72 on a hot, blustery afternoon on Day 1. His final green dramas did nothing to dampen his enthusiasm for even more of the same moving forward. “I think on Friday, the greens will be quicker than they were today which will make a big difference. I can’t wait for that.” |
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