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EYEWITNESS 5
THE ENABLER
Christophe Angiolini
On Van de Velde's second shot, played from a lie some said was less than perfect: "The lie was perfect, oh yes, I can guarantee it! It was better than [if the ball were] in the fairway. The ball looked like it was teed up!"
On Van de Velde's decision-making: "None of the decisions [Van de Velde made] were wrong; I think it was about luck. The bounce was unbelievable on the grandstand. He hit the 2-iron only five meters right of the target. That's not a bad shot, it was just bad luck. Maybe it was the decision of God. Yes, I think it was the decision of God."
On doing it over again: "If I had to do it all over again, I would do it the same; it is the nature of the game. All the great players hit the grandstand on the last hole of big tournaments, because they know they get free drops near the green."
On Van de Velde's idea of hitting out of water: "I can't give advice, because I don't know the shot [out of water]. I've never seen this shot! So I can't give advice. I told him that. No advice from me!"
On what he and Van de Velde did the night they lost the British Open: "All the night, I was drinking, and then I did not sleep for a week. Jean drank a very good bottle of wine and we spent all the night together with friends and had a very good time. He was very happy, of course! He was happier than me. I cried for maybe two hours, but after I was happy, too. Why? Because a few weeks later we went to the PGA in Chicago, and then later on, we went to the Ryder Cup. And we still know how to have a good time, even after defeat. It's the best experience in my life, still to this day."
On his relationship with Van de Velde today: "We still talk, oh of course! About two times a month. Jean is doing excellent. He finished in the top 10 two weeks ago. He's doing really good. He won a tournament last year, did you know?"
On what he's doing now: "I'm still caddying on the European Tour, for Julien Foret, a young player. I'm having a very good time."
