Despite breaking his leg last year, Thomas Levet has not ruled out another French Open victory jump.
Frenchman seeking repeat performance at Le Golf National
Despite breaking his leg jumping into the water last year, Thomas Levet has not ruled out another victory leap at this week's Alstom French Open at Le Golf National near Paris.
Levet's well-intentioned mishap put him out of the Open Championship and he did not play again until September.
"I hope I go in again. It means I won the tournament," said the defending champion, one of only two home players to lift the title since 1969.
Colin Montgomerie, winner in 2000, has a very differing opinion though: "I think it is the silliest thing that players have done over the years.
"I have always been suspect about people diving into lakes, not knowing how deep they are and what is in there.
"There could be something sharp. He was lucky it was only a leg injury. It's not the way to celebrate - taking the next three months off because you've hurt yourself."
Levet plays the first two rounds at the 2018 Ryder Cup venue in the company of Justin Rose and Ian Poulter.
Rose has not played in the event since 2004 but, like his former cup partner, has chosen to make this his final warm-up for The Open rather than next week's Scottish Open.
The same goes for world number three Lee Westwood, looking for back-to-back victories on European soil after taking the Nordea Masters in Sweden four weeks ago, and US Open runner-up Graeme McDowell.
Westwood's 22 European Tour wins do not include the French Open but he has had a number of near-misses, including a play-off defeat to Martin Kaymer three years ago.
That day, Westwood shot 65 to force sudden death but he went in the lake - with a shot rather in celebration - at the first extra hole.
"Martin's ball carried the water by a foot and mine must have gone in by a foot. That's the chance you take in play-offs," he said.
The pair went on to be partners in the last Ryder Cup and are back together for the opening 36 holes.
Something special
"It would mean something special to win because of the history of the tournament," Westwood told the European Tour website.
"It's a very old national championship (first contested in 1906) and it's a prestigious title to win. There's some great names who have won it.
"One of my best-ever results when I came on Tour was here - I finished fourth in 1994 to Mark Roe. That was the first time I played the course and I've enjoyed playing it ever since.
"It's a good test - difficult and a lot of thick rough which brings on my hayfever. It's quite tight and it's good because you get penalised for hitting bad shots."
Welshman Jamie Donaldson is looking to follow up his maiden victory at the Irish Open - in his 255th European Tour event - while 1995 winner Paul Broadhurst, now 46, has already tasted some success this week.
The former Ryder Cup star won one of the four final qualifying events for The Open on Tuesday.
There is another Open spot on offer now and among those looking for a top-five finish are Montgomerie, BMW International Open winner Danny Willett, former major winners Michael Campbell, Shaun Micheel and Rich Beem and last year's amateur sensation Tom Lewis.
The 21-year-old from Welwyn Garden, whose opening 65 at Sandwich gave him a share of the lead and was the lowest round ever by an amateur in the championship, failed to qualify at Sunningdale last week and then rather than playing in Ireland flew to Las Vegas to seek help from top coach Butch Harmon.
"You can tell from my scoring and my putting and my stats that my game is not in the shape it was this time last year," said Lewis, who has missed four of his last five cuts.
"I think it's a good thing for me to have this stage in my life because it's going to make me realise how hard you need to work."
