Ewen Ferguson was looking forward to catching-up for a friendly chat with Justin Rose ahead of the weekend rounds of the FedEx Open de France near Versailles.
Ferguson holed a testing final hole par putt in a second round 67 for a two-round six-under tally to be just a shot shy of the then clubhouse lead when Rose was teeing-off for his second round on the 2018 victorious European Ryder Cup course.
Rose is competing for the first time on the Le National course since that memorial week six-years ago when the Englishman, as the World No. 1, helped steer Europe to their seven-point success.
The trio of Swede Jesper Svensson (68), Belgium’s Thomas Detry (63) and England’s Dan Bradbury (66) share the lead on nine-under.
However, spare a thought for Thorbjorn Olesen who led by a shot playing the last but in finding water guarding the green at the last he walked off in near darkness at 7pm local time with a double-bogey ‘6’ in a score of 69 to drop back into a share of fourth at eight-under.
TOP PLANNING A CAREER CHAT WITH @RyderCupEurope LEGEND …
Ewen @EwboF @modestgolf @ISPSHanda is keen to catch-up with good friend @JustinRose99 before close #FedExOpenDeFrance to discuss 2025 career options/priorities
Read: https://t.co/1TXxmoUtvE
✅ @TOURMISS pic.twitter.com/dobeN9ljzB
— Golf & Science News (@TOURMISS) October 11, 2024
Ferguson arrived in France not only looking for a second victory to toast this season in nine events after capturing the BMW International Open in Munich in July.
The Scot’s second French Open round was a chalk-and-cheese affair of four outward birdies but a mixed inward nine of just two birdies but also just as many bogeys on a course being played under a one-club preferred lie rule.
He said: “I don’t know why but I feel sometimes you start and are a little bit rusty. I’ve not started that well the last few weeks I’ve played.
“I know that I kind of find my game as the round goes on. It was good, better, this afternoon and overall, I feel as though I played better than I scored today probably”.
Ferguson arrived in Versailles lying 28th on the Race to Dubai and very much looking to finish his fourth full season among the leading non-exempt 10 that will earn a 2025 PGA Tour card.
If so, it would see the Scot not only join Rose on the PGA Tour but Ferguson would meet-up with Bob MacIntyre.
It’s why he is keen to meet-up with Rose before the Englishman jets back to the States.
Ferguson said: “There is some big events coming up soon with thinks like PGA Tour cards up for grabs and there is a ‘team cup’ (Ryder Cup) on the horizon, as well
“It’s why I may have a word with Justin tonight or tomorrow if I see him.
“I know Justin a bit now. I’ve spent quite a bit of time with him in his company. Had a few good times with him. He’s so easy to talk to. He’s so nice.
“He’s not got like — he’s like a superstar that’s very, very approachable, which is quite nice to have and know, and we’ve got a few mutual friends as well, so it’s quite nice to have that in common.
“Looking forward to hopefully playing under him”.
OTHER SCOTS …
Connor Syme (68,71 – 139),
Calum Hill (69,70 – 139)
David Law (70,70 – 140)



