Brigitte Van de Velde is back this week in a familiar role, defending the man she loves. "Jean could have been very good if his main focus were only his golf game," said the wife of France's first Ryder Cup player.

She explained: "He has had very little support. He has been the best player in France for 15 years but there was no one to compare him with. You look at Padraig Harrington. There are others in Ireland who guided him, like Christy O'Connor and Eamonn Darcy. Jean does not have a mentor. Even in France, Jean was not part of the golf connection."