FedEx Open de France 2026 Preview: Everything You Need to Know
The 2026 FedEx Open de France brings Continental Europe’s oldest national open back to Le Golf National, near Paris, from 24 to 27 September. The tournament returns to the Albatros course after a year away while extensive renovation work was carried out, giving this historic event a fresh setting as the DP World Tour enters the closing stages of its regular season.
First staged in 1906, the Open de France has a long history that includes champions such as Seve Ballesteros, Nick Faldo, Colin Montgomerie and Byron Nelson. FedEx became title sponsor in 2024, and the event now forms part of the DP World Tour’s Back 9, where players are competing for Race to Dubai points, prize money and valuable opportunities ahead of the season-ending Play-Offs.
Michael Kim returns as defending champion, while Tommy Fleetwood, Matt Fitzpatrick, Ludvig Ã…berg, Viktor Hovland and Cameron Smith are among the notable names in the field. The tournament also offers a qualification opportunity for The 155th Open Championship at St Andrews in 2027.
When Is The FedEx Open de France 2026?
The 2026 FedEx Open de France takes place from Thursday 24 September to Sunday 27 September at Le Golf National. The tournament is played over four rounds, with the cut coming after 36 holes.
The September date places the event firmly within the DP World Tour’s Back 9, following the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth and ahead of the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship. The FedEx Open de France carries 5,000 Race to Dubai points, with the winner receiving 835 points.
That makes the tournament important not only for the title itself but also for players chasing positions in the Race to Dubai. At the end of the Back 9, the top 70 qualifying players will advance to the DP World Tour Play-Offs, with the field subsequently reduced to the top 50 available players for the season-ending DP World Tour Championship.
Where Is The FedEx Open de France Held?
The 2026 event is being played at Le Golf National in Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines, just outside Paris. The Albatros course is one of the DP World Tour’s best-known layouts and has hosted the Open de France on 30 occasions, including every edition from 2002 through 2024.
Le Golf National is also famous for hosting the 2018 Ryder Cup, when Europe’s team recorded a 17½–10½ victory over the United States.
The course has undergone significant changes since the 2024 tournament. The work was connected in part to the expansion of Paris Metro Line 18, with substantial alterations made to holes four, five and six. The changes include new tee boxes, reshaped lake edges and additional bunkers, while greens on holes one, two, nine and 18 have also been refined. In total, 17 bunkers were added.
The return to Le Golf National therefore gives the 2026 championship an additional element of uncertainty: players familiar with the old layout will have to adapt to a course that has been modified in several important areas.
What Is The Purse For The FedEx Open de France?
The 2026 FedEx Open de France has a prize fund of US$3.75 million. The tournament also carries 5,000 Race to Dubai points and 1,500 Ryder Cup points.
The US$3.75 million purse is notably different from the £6 million figure stated in the original version of this article. The official DP World Tour schedule lists the 2026 prize fund in US dollars, so it should not be presented as a £6 million purse.
The financial rewards are only part of what is at stake. Players are also competing for Race to Dubai points that can affect their position heading towards the Play-Offs, while the tournament forms part of the wider qualification pathway for The Open Championship in 2027.
Who Is Playing at the FedEx Open de France 2026?
Michael Kim returns to defend the title he won in 2025. Kim claimed his maiden DP World Tour victory at Golf de Saint-Nom-La-Brèteche last year, finishing one stroke ahead of Australia’s Elvis Smylie and France’s Jeong weon Ko.
The 2026 field includes several prominent European players. Tommy Fleetwood, Matt Fitzpatrick, Ludvig Ã…berg and Viktor Hovland are all confirmed, while PGA TOUR winners Ryan Gerard, Cameron Smith and Bud Cauley are also in the field. Kristoffer Reitan and Eugenio Chacarra are among the other recent winners taking part.
There is also a strong French contingent. Matthieu Pavon and Adrien Saddier headline the home challenge, alongside Julien Guerrier, Antoine Rozner, Romain Langasque, Frédéric Lacroix, Victor Perez, Jeong weon Ko, Ugo Coussaud, Martin Couvra, Oihan Guillamoundeguy and Tom Vaillant.
Several former champions are also competing. Alongside Kim, the field includes Dan Bradbury, who won the last edition held at Le Golf National before the course renovations, as well as 2023 champion Guido Migliozzi, 2017 champion Fleetwood and 2012 champion Marcel Siem.
Who Are Favourites To Win The FedEx Open de France?
The 2026 field contains several players with strong credentials, but golf betting markets can change as tournament week progresses and should be checked separately for the latest prices.
Michael Kim has the unusual challenge of defending a title he won at a different venue. His 2025 victory came at Golf de Saint-Nom-La-Brèteche, meaning his return to France is not a defence on the same course. The 2026 championship represents his first appearance at the renovated Le Golf National as defending champion.
Tommy Fleetwood has an established record at Le Golf National, having won the Open de France in 2017, while Matt Fitzpatrick, Ludvig Ã…berg and Viktor Hovland bring recent Ryder Cup experience and high-level DP World Tour and PGA TOUR credentials.
The FedEx Open de France also has an additional incentive in 2026: one place in The 155th Open Championship at St Andrews will be awarded to the leading player in the field who is not already exempt, provided they make the cut. The event is the first of 19 tournaments forming the 2027 Open Qualifying Series.
Bet on the FedEx Open de France at Bet442
Bet442 offers golf betting markets alongside betting on a range of other sports. Golf markets can include tournament winners, player finishing positions, round-by-round markets and head-to-heads.
If you choose to bet on the FedEx Open de France, it is worth checking the latest markets, prices and terms before placing any wager.
Bet442 is licenced and regulated by the UK Gambling Commission (UKGC), ensuring a safe and secure betting experience.
Always remember to gamble responsibly by sticking to a strict budget within your means and making use of any responsible gambling tools available.
**The information provided in this blog is intended for educational purposes and should not be construed as betting advice or a guarantee of success. Always gamble responsibly.