Cooper not daunted by French test

Posted on 23/06/08. By Staff writer

West Sussex PGA professional Lea Cooper plays in the biggest event of his career this week (26-29 June 2008) when he tees it up in the French Open on the European Tour.

The 29-year-old, who is attached to Foxbridge near Uxbridge, qualified by the narrowest of margins to book his place in the £3million event alongside the likes of 2007 US Open champion Angel Cabrera and Ryder Cup stars Colin Montgomerie, Lee Westwood and Darren Clarke.

Cooper claimed one of the six spots on offer at the qualifier held at Stade Francais Courson just outside Paris - but only just.

Having been three under through 12 holes of his second round the wheels started to come off and he found himself playing the 535-yard par-five last needing a birdie to get into a play-off.

But he did even better than that as he almost holed his 252-yard blind approach with a three wood, with the ball hitting the pin and coming to rest just inches from the hole for a tap-in eagle and the chance to play at Le Golf National near Versailles.

"I am made up about it. It is almost surreal, unbelievable," said Cooper, who is playing in his first European Tour event after rounds of 68 and 72 left him four under in the qualifier and a shot inside the required mark.

"I hit two of the best shots I have ever hit in my career on that 18th hole but to eagle it was weird.

"I have been playing well all year but I played probably the best round of golf in terms of how much pressure I put on myself in that second final round (of the qualifier)."

Cooper is not daunted by the prospect of playing alongside some of the biggest names in golf on a course which is rated one of the best in Europe.

"I tend to play better on more difficult golf courses," he added.

Cooper tees off at Le Golf National on Thursday, June 26, and his first objective will be to make the cut - which would earn him somewhere in the region of £7,000 for starters.