General / Editor / 25 June 2007 /

Niclas Fasth's two-shot victory in the BMW International Open has seen him installed as the early favourite for this weekend's Open de France.

Fasth held off the challenge from veteran Bernhard Langer to take the $450,000 winner's cheque, closing with a round of 70 to finish two shots clear of the field.

The Swede is closing in on a breakthrough to the world's top 20 and is certainly in fine form heading into the Paris event.

The 35-year-old was the top European at the recent US Open at Oakmont, finishing fourth, before claiming his sixth European Tour title in Germany on Sunday.

Fasth currently heads the market for the Open de France, trading at 14, and he admits he is in the form of his career.

"I've played some of the best golf of my life this week," he said.

However, he admitted he almost let it slip by trying to take his foot off the gas until he realised Langer was making a late charge for victory.

"I made a mistake by not looking at leaderboards until the 15th.

"I was very tired all week and wanted to keep my energy, but I need my fiery excitement and when I saw that Bernhard was only one behind it got me going.

"I holed three good putts on the next three greens and won, but I have to say how impressed I was by Bernhard, especially considering his first round. That's the stuff of champions."

Lee Westwood and Richard Green are joint second favourites at 18 to win in Paris, ahead of 2001 winner Jose Maria Olazabal and Richard Sterne at 21.

Anders Hansen, tied for fourth in Munich, is next best at 22, ahead of Ian Poulter and Bradley Dredge, both at 23.

Reigning champion John Bickerton is an outside chance at 60 to defend his title, while two-time winner Jean-Francois Remesy is on offer at 55.

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