Victor Dubuisson, a former DP World Tour champion and European Ryder Cup star who retired at age 33, played his first competitive golf since 2023.
Victor Dubuisson, a former DP World Tour champion and 2014 European Ryder Cup star who retired at age 33, played his first competitive golf since September 2023 and made it look as easy as riding a bicycle.
The 35-year-old Frenchman returned to the Alps Tour, a developmental circuit, and carded rounds of 62-65-61 at Golf de Biarritz Le Phare in his homeland. Then he birdied the second playoff hole to edge Spain’s Jorge Maicas and win the Biarritz Cup.
But according to Bunkered.com, Dubuisson declined to accept his winner’s share of the €47,500 prize purse after being in the field as a sponsor’s exemption. Calling it “a gesture of personal principle, Dubuisson refused his €7,600 winner’s check, which went to Maicas.
Dubuisson was the No. 1 amateur in 2009 before turning pro and had the potential to do the same in the pay-for-play ranks but the life of a touring pro wasn’t for him.
“I feel like I’ve reached my limits and I know I can find pleasure elsewhere, I’m convinced of that,” the enigmatic Dubuisson said during an interview in December 2023 with France’s L’Equipe. “I spent 15 years alone on the Tour, curled up on myself. I missed contact with people. So it’s just simple human relationships around golf that I want to have.”
It appears his game has little rust and time will tell if this Alps Tour victory kickstarts a full-fledged comeback bid.
“It is unclear at this stage whether Dubuisson plans to build on this success and target a full comeback,” Bunkered.com reported, noting that for the past 18 months he has been running clinics for holiday makers in Tenerife at the Abama Golf Resort.
This article originally appeared on Golfweek: Victor Dubuisson returns, wins on Alps Tour, refuses prize money
Category: General Sports
