Big Interview: Why Carnoustie is water under the bridge for Jean van de Velde

But as Jean van de Velde can testify, that isn’t always the case.

It was at The Open held in Carnoustie, back in 1999, the Frenchman went from a relative unknown to a household name.

But unfortunately for him, he shot to prominence for all the wrong reasons.

After some outstanding golf, van de Velde headed to the 499-yard 18th on the final day leading by three shots.

He needed just a double-bogey six to claim the title and become the first Frenchman to win The Open since Arnaud Massy in 1907.

What happened next though had to be seen to be believed. And became the stuff of golfing folklore

Van de Velde’s first mistake was taking a driver off the tee – with the Frenchman’s wayward tee shot ending up on the 17th hole.

For his second shot he did use an iron but could only find the rough.

And his third shot turned out to be even worse with the two-time European Tour winner finding the water.

What followed was one of the most iconic moments golf has seen over the past 20-years.

With his ball barely submerged, van de Velde famously took off his shoes, rolled up his trousers and stepped into the stream as he contemplated playing out of the water.

The thousands of spectators who surrounded the 18th hole – let alone the ones watching on television – could not believe what they were seeing.

After considerable time, van de Velde thought better of it and agreed to take a drop shot. And yet despite everything that had happened, he still had the opportunity to get up and down for a six and win the tournament.

Incredibly though, van de Velde found the bunker and – all of a sudden – even a play-off with club house leaders Paul Lawrie and Justin Leonard looked unlikely.

From somewhere though, the Frenchman regrouped.

He chipped out well from the bunker to leave himself a six-foot putt to get into the four-hole play-off. And he then sunk that shot with the Carnoustie crowd erupting in relief for the Frenchman. In reality though, van de Velde was never going to recover from what he had been through.

And it was Lawrie who went on to triumph and lift the Claret Jug.

Even now, the one question everyone wants to ask van de Velde is how he felt after letting a Major win slip through his hands.

But the Frenchman has always had a zest for life. And that spirit has helped him put the moment behind him.

“It was a phenomenal week with great memories,” van de Velde said about 1999.

“I’m lucky enough to have been involved in golf, it is a sport that has given me so much pleasure.

“But while golf is a large part of me, it doesn’t make me who I am as a human being.

“A lot of bad things happen around us, whether it’s family related or illness or more dramatic stuff, I’ve always had the perspective to put the game of golf where it belongs.

“I am at peace with what happened at Carnoustie and I have been for a very long time.

“You know, it did take me a few days to find my sleep again after that Sunday, due to the stress, the adrenalin, the rush, trying to analyse it or whatever.

“But after that, I have never once woken up in a cold sweat.

“I know it is part of history. It is not all of me, but it is part of me.

“There were quite a few viewers that day, up to 300 million, they say. But I’ve been asked so many times about it I feel like I have spoken to them all. But I’m always happy to talk about it when anyone asks.” Van de Velde now plays on the European Senior Tour.

And like the rest of world he watched with intrigue as the Ryder Cup was held in his native France last month.

At the Le Golf National course, Europe reclaimed the iconic trophy – meaning they have now won nine of the last 12 competitions.

And van de Velde, who played in the 1999 tournament, believes there is a reason why Europe are so dominant.

“We may be neighbours but we are culturally different – and I think that is what makes us strong,” the 52-year-old said.

“We are more open with our team-mates. We try to help each other out and understand each other.

“Our differences become our strengths. It’s a melting pot of different cultures that join together for the same goal.

“I think we are closer because of that.

“You look at the victory at Le Golf National and everyone played well.

“Everybody was there for each other. Everyone made themselves available for their team mate. No egos came forward. It was fantastic to watch.”

For van de Velde, it was particularly pleasing for a successful Ryder Cup to take place in France.

Golf isn’t as popular in his homeland as it is on these shores and America.

But that is starting to change, and he feels the Ryder Cup will encourage more people in France to take up the sport.

“The French public made up about 30 per cent of the crowd every day,” van de Velde continued.

“It was around 24,000 French people that came through the gates.

“That shows just how popular golf is becoming because they came from all over the country.

“As a French person, having the Ryder Cup in France, I believe, overall, the competition was a success.

“It put the competition on a different level. In the past around 45,000 have come through the gate but we extended it to 60,000.

“And the venue showed what can be done with a Ryder Cup. That should be the benchmark for future Ryder Cups.

“Personally it was a great honour to see it in France. Not so long ago, no Frenchman had won on the European Tour.

“We arrived on tour, we played in The Ryder Cup. But to have it in your own country – that is the cherry on top of the cake.

“I was delighted with what happened and the result of course.

“The great thing is, the Ryder Cup is here to promote the golf. Golf is not as popular on the continent as it is in Great Britain and Ireland.

“So we need to use that vehicle to grown the game and grow awareness of the game in Europe and make it even bigger.”

Van de Velde says being part of a Ryder Cup team is one of his proudest achievements. And it’s something he looks back on with great fondness.

“I remember on my first day in the team I arrived full of confidence,” he added.

“You’ve obviously been playing well to get in and you feel like you have earned your spot.

“Then you walk in and you see all the guys who have won so many things, they start talking and you realise you have to listen.

“I often listen but I often open my mouth as well. I was quite quiet on my first day. I wanted to listen to the wisdom and the guidance. The important thing is to realise you are there to help the team and to support your team-mates.

“If helping them is being on the side and cheering and being next them – that’s what you have to do. Whatever your role is you are adding a part to the team. That is something you never feel, the Ryder Cup is the only place you feel that.”