Levet set to raise his game at French Open

Frenchman Thomas Levet is probably the only golfer this week who fears the dizzying heights of winning, after a year spent recuperating from severe vertigo, but his chances are high in this week's French Open.

Levet has a knack of playing his best golf around this time of the season and returned to form, featuring for much of last week's German Open and how his home crowd would love a local winner at the 7225 yard par-71 Albatross course at Le Golf National.

Lat week's winner Niclas Fasth withdrew from this tournament earlier in the week and another crowd favourite, Jose Maria Olazabl, who played so well earlier in June at Oakmont, has also pulled out injured. This means that while the prize fund on offer is one of the biggest on the European Tour - totalling 4million euros - there are not that many big names threatening to go close this week, although 14 of this season's winners will compete.

Levet, at 60-1 on Betfair (Thursday am), is a straight and accurate hitter, which bodes well around a course that has been hit hard by the rain in recent weeks, making the rough particularly punishing.

Jean-Francois Remesy, twice a winner of this event could raise his game but he has shown little this season bar losing in  play-off in Austria. Lee Westwood may also like the course set-up and he may fancy his chances after winning a few months ago in Andalucia.

However Levet looks the part this week and the patient Frenchman may make a welcome return to the winner's podium - just don't ask him if winning again has made him feel dizzy...

Verdict: 1pt Thomas Levet @ 60-1 (Betfair - Thursday am)