Gregory Bourdy

On Sunday Gregory Bourdy of France won his first European Tour title in four years at the Wales Open. This week’s player profile takes a look at the recent career highlights of this talented player.

31-year-old Bourdy was born and raised in Bordeaux, south-western France. Golf became a major part of the young Bourdy’s life during his teenage years, with his cousin Nicholas Beaufils also participating in the game very actively. Beaufils now plays on the Challenge Tour.

Bourdy’s first taste of victory came when he was a 20-year-old amateur – he was victorious at the 2002 Scottish Youths Amateur Open, paving the way for his professional debut the following year.

The Frenchman made his debut on the Challenge Tour in 2003, weathering the demands of professional-level golf and taking the pressure in his stride. After qualifying to play on the European Tour, Bourdy played his first season in 2005 and has been a regular contender in Europe ever since.

Bourdy’s first two seasons on the European Tour were a settling-in period for the young golfer. With an improved game and on-course experience, Bourdy won his first European Tour event at the 2007 Mallorca Classic, beating Sam Little of the UK by two strokes.

The following season, Bourdy returned to the European Tour and was victorious again at the 2008 Open de Portugal, beating Scotland’s Alastair Forsyth and David Howell of England in a three-way playoff. The following season, he won the Hong Kong Open in a spirited two-stroke victory over Rory McIlroy.

The four years between Bourdy’s Hong Kong victory and his win at the Wales Open on Sunday marked a challenging time in the Frenchman’s career. The 2013 season has seen Bourdy recover his form, and golf fans should keep an eye on this talented player as he returns to the winner’s circle.

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