Vijay Singh, the reigning Masters champion returns to European shores this week in search of his second victory in the Trophée Lancôme at St.Nom-la-Breteche.
The Fijian, who captured the title in 1994, is one of six players in the field who have accumulated 17 major championships between them. Singh, the 1998 US PGA champion, is joined in France by Ian Woosnam, José Maria Olazábal, Nick Faldo, Paul Lawrie and Seve Ballesteros.
Pierre Fulke of Sweden, winner of the recent Scottish PGA Championship at Gleneagles, defends the title he won last year by holing a 25 foot birdie putt on the 72nd hole to defeat Spain's Ignacio Garrido.
It was Fulke's breakthrough victory on his eighth season on the European Tour and he joined an illustrious list of champions in the Trophée Lancôme. Back at Saint Nom are past winners Miguel Angel Jiménez, Colin Montgomerie, Singh, Woosnam, Ballesteros, Olazábal and Eduardo Romero who triumphed last week’s Canon European Masters.
Two years ago Jiménez produced a dramatic finish when he chipped in at the last hole for a birdie two - a shot which earned him the Canon Shot of the Year Award.
Fulke is looking forward to returning to the course where he achieved his first success. The Swede commented: "I think the course provides a very strong finish and the 18th is very tough.
"It is a downhill par three, usually played with a cross wind off the left with bunkering on the left and water on the right. That means you need total concentration as you play to the elevated green. I've been in that water several times in the past, so the safe option is to play slightly left.
"There is no point in taking on the pin unless you really have to. I was fortunate last year to put my tee shot to 25 feet and hole the putt. It's always a relief to see the ball land safely on that green."
Also playing in the Trophée Lancôme are a host of champions on the European Tour in the year 2000 while local favourite Jean Van de Velde returns to his native country to play in front of an enthusiastic home crowd.
