Victor Dubuisson – Yet Another Sorry Unnecessary Battle With French Media.

Victor Dubuisson’s return to compete in France for a first time since last year’s Ryder Cup at Gleneagles has been greeted by yet another sorry bizarre example of childish behaviour.

France’s leading world-ranking golfer is understood to have refused to attend any pre-French Open press conference in front of the French media and instead he hosted 22 local school children who were seated in the official interview room at the National course on the outskirts of Versailles.

However a number of full-time French golf journalists did line the room but when Dubuisson spotted a journalist from Journal du Golf, and the country’s leading golf magazine, he called for him to be removed.

There was the then the sight, in front of the school children, of an event official calming Dubuisson down before he proceeded to take a variety of questions from the youngsters, and in the end just one question from a female reporter.

Victor Dubuisson would rather host local school children than the French media.

Victor Dubuisson would rather host local school children than the French media.

It’s also understood Dubuisson, and the highest world-ranked Frenchman at No. 37, also refused to tee-up in this week’s Euro 3m event until his picture was removed from all images, posters, banners and billboards promoting the event.

Instead, double winning Graeme McDowell is featured with No. 61 ranked Frenchman Alex Levy and England’s Lee Westwood.

Dubuisson has struggled with his form this year since a season best of fourth in Abu Dhabi so much so his long-time England –born caddy Tom Ailing ‘sacked’ him after Dubuisson missed the cut in last fortnight’s U.S. Open.

Ailing’s no stupid and  has gone to work for the very affable Levy and the complete opposite to Dubuisson.

Double Major winning Martin Kaymer had no relationship with Dubuisson until last September’s Ryder Cup but even then the German admits:  “He’s a tough one to figure out.

“I don’t think no one knows him as a person.

“The way I got to know him was at the Ryder Cup, he was very nice to me.  We had good conversations, as well.

“If you sit down with him and get to know him well, he’s actually a very interesting person.  But people really don’t give him a chance sometimes, too.

“So I don’t know what the story is with him, you have to ask him, but I think it’s very normal for an athlete.”

Martin Kaymer takes the four-and-a-half drive from Dusseldorf to one of his favourite venues and the National course in Versailles. (Photo - David Lloyd/www.golffile.ie)

Martin Kaymer takes the four-and-a-half drive from Dusseldorf to one of his favourite venues and the National course in Versailles. (Photo – David Lloyd/www.golffile.ie)

Kaymer is a former French Open champion winning a week before also capturing the 2009 Scottish Open at Loch Lomond.

However Kaymer is skipping next week’s Aberdeen Asset Management Scottish Open at Gullane and instead will play a practice round at Gailes Links at the Glasgow Golf Club on Saturday July 11th in the company of his Scottish-born caddy Craig Connelly before heading to St. Andrews.

He said:  “I have decided not to play the Scottish Open this year so Craig my caddy has arranged for us to play the Gailes course and where they played an Open qualifier on Tuesday.

“So that should be very good practice before we drive up to St. Andrews on the Sunday.”

Eight Scots are in this week’s field headed by Stephen Gallacher but with his thoughts very much on next week’s Scottish Open.

He said:  “These are my favourite three weeks of the year this French Open, the Scottish Open next week and then over to St. Andrews.

“This National course will test every part of your game and the guy who wins this week will not have a weakness and that’s what I like about it.

“Then to be heading to Gullane next week is going to be great as I have an affinity with Gullane before The Open in St. Andrews that only comes round to St. Andrews every five years so that’s why these three weeks are extra special.

“And this National course has a real Scottish links feel about it so the three courses I am playing all seem to roll into one I feel.”

And rookie pro Bradley Neil has arranged for Christian Donald, and brother to former World No. 1 Luke Donald, to caddy for him this week and next week at Gullane.

Donald, who is returning to caddying after a long break when he also got married, has previously caddied with success for Donald, Kaymer and Paul Casey.



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