Jean Van De Velde

About Jean Van De Velde

Jean Van de Velde (born 29 May 1966) is a French golfer who is known mainly for his loss at The Open Championship in 1999.

Van de Velde was born in Mont-de-Marsan, Landes, France. He turned professional in 1987 and his rookie season on the European Tour was 1989. His first European Tour win was the 1993 Roma Masters. He has twice finished in the top twenty of the Order of Merit, but ranks as one of the Tour's journeymen.

Van de Velde nearly pulled off an upset victory at the 1999 Open Championship at Carnoustie, when he was the clear leader playing the closing holes. He arrived at the 18th tee needing only a double-bogey six to become the first Frenchman since 1907 to win the tournament. He had played error-free golf for much of the week and birdied the 18th hole in each of his two prior rounds.