Watson broadens his horizons

Golf:World number 12 Bubba Watson is making a rare European Tour foray by playing in this week's French Open near Paris. It will be a brief appearance on this side of the Atlantic for the big-hitting American as he plans to fly home at the end of the tournament before returning in two weeks' time for the British Open at Sandwich.

"I've played the US Tour my whole career and I just wanted to experience a different culture, a different life, a different atmosphere," Watson said. "(But) how do I put this nicely? I want to have my own food for a few days then come back over."

Watson has an unconventional approach to tour life and likes to do things his own way.

"When I get home I just play golf, I don't hit range balls or anything, I just play 18 holes each day or every other day," he said. "I practice but not as hard as some of the other guys. I don't have a mental coach, I don't have a swing coach, I don't have anybody that I call coach. It's all me."

World number four Martin Kaymer, who pipped Watson to the US PGA Championship title last August after a play-off, has given the crowd-pleasing left hander some tips on how to play the National.

"Me and Martin are good friends," said Watson. "He has a house in Scottsdale in Arizona near me and he told me how tough this course is, that the last few holes have a lot of water.

"He said you get some high rough and you have to hit the fairways. That's what we want, a tough course that challenges us, makes us pay attention, and where you have to play good golf. I wanted to try out the course that just got awarded the Ryder Cup."

Miguel Angel Jimenez is the defending champion but Kaymer is the favourite to land this week's title.

Rory McIlroy was on the original entry list, but pulled out after his first major victory — just as Graeme McDowell did last year. Their fellow Irishman Darren Clarke is back in action, though, after missing last week’s event in order to join the 22-year-old’s celebrations.

“I really wanted to be there — I’ve known Rory since he was very, very young,” he said.

Clarke is exempt for the upcoming British Open, but Colin Montgomerie is among those who are not and they now need a top five finish either this Sunday or at Castle Stuart near Inverness to qualify. Montgomerie will hope to draw on the memory of three years ago when he was runner-up to Spain’s Pablo Larrazabal.