Ewen Murray says Bubba Watson should be ashamed of his unsavoury outburst in Paris.
Ewen says Paris was a success, even if Watson doesn't agree
All of the focus was on Le Golf National last week and having won the bid to hold the Ryder Cup of 2018, this magnificent layout once again proved a stern test for those who made the journey to Versailles.
The more you see of this course the more you warm to it and down the years, it has become a venue that commands the respect of the players. If this tournament was a dress rehearsal for seven years' time, it passed the test with flying colours.
With many of the big names missing the cut, an interesting mix of players had the chance to take home the impressive first prize of half a million euros and along with that, an invitation to the Bridgestone in Akron and the HSBC in Shanghai.
France is enjoying and embracing their success with big plans for the years ahead and they got the fairytale ending they so much wanted.
In Thomas Levet, they have a worthy champion. Thomas spent many hours presenting and backing the 2018 bid and after 20 years of trying to win his national title, it arrived at the age of 43, a whole 23 years after winning the French PGA Championship.
I often spend time with Thomas in the United States as he presents the commentary for French television in the majors and World Golf Championships. He is always cheery and a good companion. I know how much he wanted that title and I'm sure he will treasure it for the rest of his career.
Our guest on
Sky Sports last week was Jean van de Velde, who was convinced his countryman would win. Their celebrations are more than likely still in full flow and I don't blame them.
Be careful what you wish for
Like the majority, I was looking forward to Bubba Watson playing on the European Tour for the first time. His game is different. He never tries to hit straight shots, they all have varying trajectories, he has never had a coach and he is very talented.
For too long now, the American players have been loathed to travel the world which many of them believe starts in San Francisco and ends in Miami.
With two wins on his home tour already this year, I applauded Mr Watson's decision to spread his golfing wings and bring his own unique brand of play to Paris. However, the phrase "be careful what you wish for" sprung to mind over the first two days of our tour's oldest championship.
Following a 74 in round one: "Ah miss ma home". Fine, we all miss our homes at some time on our travels, but having added another 74 to miss the cut by four shots, Watson's outburst was childish and downright stupid:
"This is not a tournament, there are cameras and phones going off every minute despite signs on every tee saying they are prohibited and there is no security. This never happens in America and I'm never coming back to play here because this is not what should happen. I'll play in the Open only because it's a major."
How gracious of him to consider that.
Having sulked after round one, he had a chance on the Friday to put right what he said on Thursday, but he chose to dig a deeper hole. My own thoughts at the time were that he was perhaps embarrassed at his play, disappointed not to have made a better fist of his first event, and yes, the different culture may have proved a test for him.
I thought the media reaction was a mountain out of a mole hill until I heard about the courtesy car.
"I'm not sharing with another player, ah want ma own car." Pathetic.
The player he was to share the 15-minute journey from the luxury hotel to the golf course is a two-time winner on the European Tour, his name is S.S.P.Chowrasia from India.
Like his fellow countrymen, Jeev Milkha Singh, Shiv Kapur and Joyti Randhawa, SSP is a gentleman of impeccable manners and a credit to his country and the sport.
Bubba, or should I say by this time, Blubba, broke all of the codes and ethics among professional golfers. No one is more important than anyone else. His behaviour wasn't just naughty, it was embarrassing.
Unsavoury
The truth about his unsavoury outburst last week is the fact that the French National course is a proper test of golf.
Tee shots fall into bunkers rather than onto them like so many do on the PGA Tour. Errant shots are penalised by thick rough, not the acres of semi he is used to week in week out and he had a bad two days playing wise.
He is not the first player to suffer that experience. That's golf, it happens and there is no shame in missing the cut.
It has been reported that Mr Watson has signed a contract to play in the Scandinavian Masters the week after the Open and I have no doubt, like the Open de France, there would be a financial incentive to do so. The fact he has stated he will not play again on our Tour obviously puts that in doubt.
If I was in charge of what is a top event in Stockholm, I would tear the contract up. I'm sure there are pictures and posters of Mr Watson in Sweden promoting the event and the official programs will have been printed which will include his profile, after all the event is just two weeks away and planning takes many weeks, if not months.
Sweden has been a wonderful supporter of our Tour for decades and they are a very important part of it. They don't deserve to have a character like Bubba Watson as a guest in their country and quite frankly, our Tour does not need the headlines he created last week in Paris.
I should say at this time he has apologised to the Tour for his bad manners, which is welcome, and as I've said before, everyone deserves a second chance.
Should he make the journey to Sweden, let's hope he has learnt from this sorry state of affairs and let's hope one of his letters of apology is sent to S.S.P. Chowrasia.
New ground
Another American, the Texas Open champion Brendan Steele, played in his first European event and before leaving Paris went to the various hospitality pavilions and thanked all of the sponsors for their invitation and kindness, something Phil Mickelson has done so well on his travels in recent years.
Steele looks a fine player and hopefully we will see him again on this side of the pond. A top seven finish first time out was impressive and his last nine holes of just 30 shots on Saturday was the best of the championship.
This week the tour breaks new ground as the Barclays Scottish Open moves to the delightful Castle Stuart course by the shores of the Moray Firth.
Situated just two miles from Inverness Airport, this course is in its infancy yet it looks like it has been there for centuries.
The surrounding countryside vistas are among the best Scotland has to offer with the
Black Isle across the water and further north the majestic Skibo Castle and the much-loved links of Royal Dornoch.
It's the last chance for the players entered for the Open to get their games in shape for Royal St. Georges and I think they will welcome the chance to play on a links course ahead of the year's third major championship.
The course is quite generous off the tee, but the green complexes are tight and a top-class short game will reap handsome dividends.
Loch Lomond has provided a superb venue over the last few years and who knows, we may return there in the future.
In the meantime, enjoy the top quality golf and the stunning views of the highlands.
