What they think of the irresistible rise of Matthieu Pavon

They rub shoulders with him on the PGA Tour or followed him very closely during the recent Team Cup where Matthieu Pavon made a very strong impression. Among them, the captain of Team Europe for the next Ryder Cup in Bethpage, Luke Donald… The Englishman was indeed able to see in Abu Dhabi, despite the crushing defeat of the Continentals, that the Frenchman had what it took to settle down. in the team which will challenge the United States in the suburbs of New York from September 26 to 28.

LV with Bernie McGUIRE and Fatiha BETSCHER, our correspondents in Dubai

Just a few hours after the clear victory of the British Isles and Ireland over Continental Europe (17-8), Paul McGinleythe Mr. Strategy to Luke DonaldEuropean captain victorious in Rome and captain again for the perilous trip to Bethpage next September, was rave about Matthew Pavon.

« He stood out, and even though he was part of a team that lost, he had a lot of gutshad underlined the Irishman. It’s no secret that we’re considering two or three (news) recruits. We view this Ryder Cup in a very different way than we have viewed previous away editions. »

« What we’re particularly looking for is personality, cunning and courage, someone who can play in a hostile environment, someone who has an edge to that and, I think Pavon brings all these “guarantees”, continues the former victorious captain in 2014 in the Ryder Cup Gleneagles (Scotland). He has just had a very great year on the PGA Tour, he will once again be present in the Majors this season but also in all the Signature Events. It will be interesting to see how he plays. But from what I saw, he looks very, very strong. »

He played very solid golf. He was impressive. He also displayed the right state of mind to play in match play.

Luke Donald

Luke Donald, in fact, was also “bluffed” by the composure of the Bordeaux player, winner of three of his four matches in the Team Cup (each time partnered in doubles with Romain Langasque). And yet, the Frenchman had just made a very long journey to the United Arab Emirates from… Hawaii where he took part in the Sentrypremier Signature Event of the 2025 season PGA Tour.

« It was great to see his level of involvementsummarizes the Englishman. He came all the way here from Hawaii and I think he made the most of his long trip. He played very solid golf. He was impressive. He also displayed the right state of mind to play in match play. It was good to see him deal with these difficult circumstances and this significant time difference. »

« The fact of having won like that so quickly in the United States took the pressure off him, adds the former world No. 1. He got back two years of exemption and everything a victory could open. This allowed him to gain a lot of self-confidence.
We are always looking for players who are progressing and improving. This is clearly what he did. He has made a big leap forward in the last 18 months. »

It would be his first Ryder Cup in America, which adds an extra layer of difficulty. But it seems like he has no problem putting himself out there, which is probably a top priority.

Nicolas Colsaerts

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Privileged observer with Luke Donald in this Team Cup, Nicolas Colsaertswho should be confirmed in a few days as vice-captain of the Ryder Cup (as in Rome), was also convinced by the potential of the French player who is putting his title back on the line this week at Torrey Pines (California) for the Farmers Insurance Open.

« He was a major revelation during the Team Cup, blurted the Belgian. I think it just confirmed what we thought about him. He grew up in a family where team sport was always a priority, especially with his father (Editor’s note, Michael Pavonprofessional footballer in Toulouse and Bordeaux). So, there was no doubt that he was going to understand how to behave in a team environment. And then, in terms of golf, he was extremely good. He played extremely well. He was pitted against Tommy (Fleetwood) who played exceptionally well, which was actually a very good test to see what he would perform. I think he checked a few boxes. »

« The fact that Matthieu won quickly last year on the PGA Tour surprised a lot of peoplecontinues the former winner of the Ryder Cup in 2012 to Medina (Illinois). Being a good player is one thing. It’s another to establish itself in a few weeks in the United States. He had a huge season there. Could he make the trip to Bethpage? Yes of course. I think a lot of people involved would be completely comfortable with him making the team. Afterwards, it would be his first Ryder Cup in America, which adds an extra layer of difficulty. But it seems like he has no problem putting himself out there, which is probably a top priority. I don’t really know him well, even though we speak the same language. But I think he convinced a lot of people. »

If Luke is thinking of him for a wild card, he’s a solid option, we know he plays very well, he won in America, so he has a lot of upside.

Tommy Fleetwood

An impression confirmed by his opponent during the singles in this 2025 Team Cup. Tommy Fleetwoodvictorious 3&1 by producing an incredible game of golf (-7 after 9 holes), also pays tribute to his one-day opponent.

« He has an incredibly strong gamebreathes the Englishman, world No. 10. I think he gained a lot of confidence in himself. I said last week that I would love to face him in singles. That’s an absolute compliment to him. I wanted to be able to test my game against someone who plays very well and is high in the world rankings. So for me, I will pay him the biggest compliment by saying that I was very excited to play against him. If Luke is thinking of him for a wild card, he’s a solid option, we know he plays very well, he won in America, so he has a lot of upside. »

What he achieved last year is pretty incredible. He is getting closer to being selected for the Ryder Cup. We need solid players.

Viktor Hovland

Author of a fiery Ryder Cup in 2023 in Rome (3 wins, 1 draw, 1 loss), Viktor Hovlandcertainly one of the pillars of the European team in Bethpage in eight months, admits to not knowing Matthieu Pavon very well. But he admits to having been impressed by his quick victory at the Farmers last year, a guarantee of confidence when you play on the toughest professional circuit in the world.

« I don’t know him very wellhe apologizes. We never played together. I know he spent most of his career on the European Tour. I didn’t follow him very closely but I knew he was a good player. He won very quickly in the United States and that’s pretty incredible. This shows how close a lot of guys are, even if they haven’t fully established themselves yet. This is what happened to me too. At first you don’t realize how hard it is to win (on the PGA Tour). For me, I think it’s a good thing to win early. If I had to give him advice, it’s to keep doing what he’s doing, have confidence in himself. What he achieved last year is pretty incredible. He is getting closer to being selected for the Ryder Cup. We need solid players. »