In this series, we've unearthed images from the RFEG's photographic archive, each one telling a beautiful golf story. The story of our golf. They are OUR CHAMPIONS.

📆 June 29, 2008.

⛳ Le Golf National (Paris).

▶Today, we all know Pablo Larrazábal the golfer, with his five European Tour victories under his belt in his fifteen years as a professional. But perhaps not everyone remembers that the Barcelona native was chosen as Rookie of the Year on the circuit in 2008 after achieving his first victory, which came at the French Open held at Le Golf National course in Versailles.

At 25, Pablo won decisively, beating none other than Scotland's Colin Montgomerie, who finished second four strokes behind. Trailing behind, and with no chance of catching the young Spanish golfer, were Soren Hansen and Lee Westwood, who had just finished third at the US Open.

Pablo Larrazábal won with rounds of 65, 70, 67, and 67 strokes, demonstrating an ability to overcome pressure unusual for a debutant on the tour. So much so that in the final round, while chasing Montgomerie and company, he pulled off seven birdies.

▶In that final round, he overcame a bogey on the 6th hole where he literally went into the water. That's when the support of the Spanish contingent on the Tour came to the fore: Ignacio Garrido, who finished in 20th place, lent him his dry shoes to help him finish one of the most special rounds of his career in the best possible way.