Golf story by sport.co.uk, Thu, 02 Jul 2009 09:51:13 GMT



With just over a fortnight to go until the 138th Open Championship at Turnberry, the European Tour gathers momentum with one of the year's richest prizes up for grabs in Paris at the Open de France.
Spanish sensation Pablo Larrazabal returns to the scene of his career defining European Tour success knowing that it will need a repeat performance of unnerving aggression and maturity for him to claim back-to-back titles at Le Golf National.



The reigning champion was a surprise winner in 2008, showing all the traits of a seasoned Tour professional in leading from the opening round and holding off the challenges of Colin Montgomerie, Soren Hansen and Lee Westwood to land the title by four clear shots after a closing 67.



It will require more of the same in 2009 as a clutch of top 50 ranked players make the trip to France for the country's flagship tournament, among them Padraig Harrington, who is desperate to show a return to the form that saw him claim two Majors in 2008 but which has all but deserted him in recent months.



The Irishman has put the French Open back in his schedule as he looks to fine-tune his game ahead of an assault on a third successive Open title.



"This game is fickle but I believe it can come around in four weeks and I believe I will be ready by the time I tee it up at the Open," said Harrington.



"I suppose with my current form, there is more hope than expectation but I'll do the same preparation for the Open as I did last year. That's all I can do."