Marcel Siem wins Alstom Open de France

Marcel Siem of Germany produced an excellent closing round of 67 to win the Alstom Open de France at Le Golf National near Paris by a single shot from Italy’s Francesco Molinari.

Marcel Siem wins Open de France (Getty Images)
Fergus Bisset
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Marcel Siem of Germany produced an excellent closing round of 67 to win the Alstom Open de France at Le Golf National near Paris by a single shot from Italy's Francesco Molinari.

It was Molinari who set the clubhouse target, closing with a, round of the week, 64. The Italian started with a double bogey but then posted nine birdies over the remaining 17 holes. He came home in just 29 strokes.

Siem responded well however and, with birdies of his own at the 14th and 15th, he moved clear and was able to keep his nose in front over the testing closing holes.

It was the German's second European Tour victory and his first since the Dunhill Championship of 2004. Having been in contention a number of times this season, he was finally able to cross the line in first place.

"So many tournaments I kind of destroyed already this year. I was always up there, and I'm so happy that I really got it done in the end," he said. "It means so much to me to win after that long stretch. It's all about winning in the end and it puts so much pressure every time you don't win and people start talking, you will never win again and stuff like that, so it's very important for me."

With the victory, Siem has booked his place in the Open Championship and has moved to 11th in the Race to Dubai.

Overnight joint leaders David Howell and Anders Hansen fell away somewhat on Sunday. Howell closed with a one-over-par 72 to finish in a tie for fourth with Ian Poulter and David Lynn while Hansen slumped to a 75 to finish tied 11th.

Alstom Open de France Le Golf National, Paris, France 5-8 Jul, purse €3,150,000, par 71

1   Marcel Siem (Ger)   68   68   73   67   276   €525,000 2   Francesco Molinari (Ita)   71   68   74   64   277   €350,000 3   Raphael Jacquelin (Fra)   68   71   70   69   278   €197,190 T4   David Howell (Eng)   70   70   67   72   279   €133,770 T4   Ian Poulter (Eng)      72   69   69   69   279   €133,770 T4   David Lynn (Eng)      67   72   72   68   279   €133,770 T7   Brendan Steele (USA)   70   70   71   69   280   €86,625 T7   Henrik Stenson (Swe)   68   73   69   70   280   €86,625 T9   Soren Kjeldsen (Den)   70   71   71   69   281   €66,780 T9   Justin Rose (Eng)      71   73   68   69   281   €66,780

Note: Player score in bold signifies Titleist ball usage

Fergus Bisset
Fergus Bisset
Contributing Editor

Fergus is Golf Monthly's resident expert on the history of the game and has written extensively on that subject. He has also worked with Golf Monthly to produce a podcast series. Called 18 Majors: The Golf History Show it offers new and in-depth perspectives on some of the most important moments in golf's long history. You can find all the details about it here.

He is a golf obsessive and 1-handicapper. Growing up in the North East of Scotland, golf runs through his veins and his passion for the sport was bolstered during his time at St Andrews university studying history. He went on to earn a post graduate diploma from the London School of Journalism. Fergus has worked for Golf Monthly since 2004 and has written two books on the game; "Great Golf Debates" together with Jezz Ellwood of Golf Monthly and the history section of "The Ultimate Golf Book" together with Neil Tappin , also of Golf Monthly.

Fergus once shanked a ball from just over Granny Clark's Wynd on the 18th of the Old Course that struck the St Andrews Golf Club and rebounded into the Valley of Sin, from where he saved par. Who says there's no golfing god?

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