With two victories on the European Tour, a second-place finish at the 1999 Open after a playoff, and as the top French player in the Ryder Cup, Jean Van de Velde shares his tips on chipping, bunker play, and correcting slices and hooks—all in French.
Jean Van de Velde He is one of France’s best-known golfers: two victories on the European Tour, a second-place finish at the 1999 Open after a playoff, and a historic selection to the Ryder Cup. As an instructor and consultant, he now shares his experience in French.
Who is Jean Van de Velde?
Jean Van de Velde is a French golfer, born on May 29, 1966, in Mont-de-Marsan, in the Landes department. He turned pro in 1987 and played his first season on the European Tour in 1989. In 1993, he claimed his first victory there at the Roma Masters, defeating New Zealander Greg Turner on the third hole of a playoff.
In 1999, he became the first Frenchman to compete in the Ryder Cup, in Brookline, United States, where he played Sunday’s singles match against Davis Love III. Europe lost 14.5 to 13.5. In 2000, he finished second twice on the PGA Tour, and in 2006 he won the Madeira Island Open, one stroke ahead of Lee Slattery.
On the senior tour, he has hosted the Legends Open de France since 2019. He has also served as a golf consultant for Canal+ and as an ambassador for UNICEF France since 2012.
Jean Van de Velde and the 1999 Open at Carnoustie
At the 1999 Open Championship in Carnoustie, Jean Van de Velde teed off from the 18th hole with a three-stroke lead: a double bogey would be enough to win. He chose to reach the green in two rather than play short of the Barry Burn, the stream that runs alongside the hole. His second shot hit the grandstand and bounced back into the rough; the next one ended up in the water. After a drop and a bunker shot, he sank a putt of about two meters to card a 7 and force a four-hole playoff with Justin Leonard and Paul Lawrie. The Scot won.
That hole has become a classic case study in strategy. A few months later, Jean Van de Velde returned to play Carnoustie’s 18th hole using only a putter, in 0 °C weather with a sea breeze: he shot a 6 there. Jean Van de Velde Plays Carnoustie's 18th Hole Using Only a Putter (1999).
Jean Van de Velde's Career Highlights
| Tournament or Record | Result |
|---|---|
| Victories on the European Tour | 2: 1993 Roma Masters, 2006 Madeira Island Open |
| Open Championship | 2nd in 1999 at Carnoustie, after a playoff |
| Ryder Cup | First French player to be selected, in 1999 in Brookline |
| Other Victories | PGA France Grand Prix in 1995 and 1996, French Professional Championship in 1998 and 1999, European Under-25 Championship in 1988 |
| PGA Tour | 2nd place in Tucson and Reno-Tahoe (playoffs) in 2000 |
| French Open | 2nd place in 2005, after the playoffs |
| Highest world ranking | 70th (May 2000) |
Jean Van de Velde's Game: What We Can Learn from His Lessons
Jean Van de Velde teaches at his VDV Golf Academy in French, starting with simple, repeatable fundamentals.
Jean Van de Velde's chipping
For him, a good chip saves you from taking a bad shot. The key: move your hands down the grip to get closer to the ball. The swing becomes more vertical, the clubhead leaves the ground earlier, and it strikes the ball in the center—without a fat shot or a top. Hands Low on the Grip: Jean Van de Velde's Fundamentals of Chipping. From 16 or 20 feet away from the green, he also rolls the ball with a hybrid club using a putting stroke to get past the tall grass: The bump and run approach, with Jean Van de Velde.
Jean Van de Velde's Bunker
In the sand, the club slows down: the rule is that the follow-through should be equal to the backswing, and sand should be propelled all the way onto the green—proof that you’ve accelerated. Bunker Shot: Symmetry and Speed—The Van de Velde Method.
The Slice and the Hook, According to Jean Van de Velde
He distinguishes between a slice, a pull-slice, and a push-slice, and then learns how to bring the clubface back faster using his right thumb and index finger, like a wave of a wand. Slice: Jean Van de Velde's Club Swing Drill. The player taking the hook should position the club at the 9 o'clock position: the clubface, the back of the left hand, and the right palm should all face forward, with no further adjustments afterward. Hook: Jean Van de Velde's 9 o'clock position.
Jean Van de Velde's Putting
The test begins with the Ball Position: If it's too far to the right, the ball bounces; at the bottom of the arc, it rolls smoothly. Putting: Ball Position and Stroke Control, by Jean Van de Velde.
Jean Van de Velde's Strategy
From among the trees, he chooses the shot that won't result in a mistake and adjusts the height by changing the clubface angle. Low and high shots to clear the trees, with Van de Velde.
Jean Van de Velde's Best Lessons by Topic
- Chipping and Approaches (wedge play, pitching, and chipping, Avoid Fat and Thin Shots): Hands Low on the Grip: Jean Van de Velde's Fundamentals of Chipping, The bump and run approach, with Jean Van de Velde.
- Bunker (Bunker shot): Bunker Shot: Symmetry and Speed—The Van de Velde Method.
- Slice and hook (correcting a slice, Grip, Backswing, draw or fade): Slice: Jean Van de Velde's Club Swing Drill, Hook: Jean Van de Velde's 9 o'clock position.
- Putting (Putting): Putting: Ball Position and Stroke Control, by Jean Van de Velde.
- Course Management (Course Management, Hazards and Trouble Shots): Low and high shots to clear the trees, with Van de Velde, Jean Van de Velde Plays Carnoustie's 18th Hole Using Only a Putter (1999).
See also the fact sheets on Thomas Levet, another golf commentator on Canal+, from Victor Dubuisson, another French player on the Ryder Cup team, and Seve Ballesteros.
Frequently Asked Questions About Jean Van de Velde: Career, the Ryder Cup, and Golf Lessons on Video
How old is Jean Van de Velde?
Jean Van de Velde was born on May 29, 1966, in Mont-de-Marsan, in the Landes region; he is 60 years old.
What happened to Jean Van de Velde at Carnoustie in 1999?
He reached the 18th hole of the Open with a three-stroke lead. After his ball bounced off the stands into the rough and then into the Barry Burn, he sank a putt of about two meters to card a 7 and enter a three-way playoff, which Paul Lawrie won.
Did Jean Van de Velde play in the Ryder Cup?
Yes, in 1999 in Brookline, Massachusetts: he was the first Frenchman to compete in the Ryder Cup. Europe lost 14.5 to 13.5.
How many tournaments has Jean Van de Velde won?
Two on the European Tour—the 1993 Roma Masters and the 2006 Madeira Island Open—and seven professional victories in total, including two French Professional Championships (1998, 1999).
What is Jean Van de Velde doing these days?
He teaches through his VDV Golf Academy, which offers video lessons in French. He has also served as a golf consultant for Canal+ and has hosted the Legends Open de France since 2019.
Where is Jean Van de Velde from?
He was born in Mont-de-Marsan, in the Landes region, and turned professional in 1987.
