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The 2018 Ryder Cup might only be a few months away but almost nobody in host country France appears to care.

So says French European Tour Mike Lorenzo-Vera.

In an interview with the New York Times, the 33-year-old delivered a withering assessment on how significant an impact golf’s biggest matchplay event will have on his country.

“People don’t care about the Ryder Cup,” said Lorenzo-Vera. “Honestly, nobody knows there’s going to be a Ryder Cup in France. Only the golfers know. That’s it. There won’t be many French there. There will be so many more from England or Spain. Golf is a very private thing for people in France. Private courses for only rich families or rich people – that’s it.”

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Mike Lorenzo Vera

Asked to explain the ‘general French perception of golf’, he went even further.

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“If you say to people in France that you play golf, they will say: “No, but really. What’s your real job?” Golf is not a good thing here. It’s for rich people and spoiled kids. That’s the image we have. Actually, we are trying to work on that. People like Alex Lévy are trying to make the game look more fun. But it’s a lot of work. I am just trying to be really nice to everyone.”

Lorenzo-Vera’s comments come as Le Golf National near Paris stages this week’s HNA Open de France, ahead of the USA attempting to mount a successful defence of the Ryder Cup at the same venue in September.


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Michael McEwan is the Deputy Editor of bunkered and has been part of the team since 2004. In that time, he has interviewed almost every major figure within the sport, from Jack Nicklaus, to Rory McIlroy, to Donald Trump. The host of the multi award-winning bunkered Podcast and a member of Balfron Golfing Society, Michael is the author of three books and is the 2023 PPA Scotland 'Writer of the Year' and 'Columnist of the Year'. Dislikes white belts, yellow balls and iron headcovers. Likes being drawn out of the media ballot to play Augusta National.

Deputy Editor

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