With current Masters and British Open champion Mark O'Meara in Versailles, Freddie Couples honeymooning in Paris, David Duval looking to increase the fortune he has already made over the Pond and Nick Faldo looking to break his Ryder Cup points duck, the Lancome Trophy has a cast of stars.
Two days ago, Paul McGinley had a cast around his neck. Almost miraculously, though, the Dubliner has shed his yoke. Today he braces himself for the start of an unexpected crack at the 133,330 Ryder Cup points on offer at St Nomla Breteche this week. Points that would also go a long way to freeing Faldo from the shackles of the dreaded wild-card wait next year. While Faldo seeks points in a serious attempt to elbow his way into the top-10 of Europe's qualifiers by the time the Volvo Masters is over next month, McGinley is just relieved to be able to hit a ball.
On Friday his neck was so bad after withdrawing from the British Masters that his caddie had to drive him home. On Monday he was in despair and even his manager advised him that the Versailles event would be just adding insult to injury if he were not careful.
But suddenly after a little expert pushing, prodding and manipulating by a specialist at home and his first good night's sleep away from muscular spasm, McGinley is fit, if not fully, to take on the world's best in Paris.
Well the world's second-best in Duval, but certainly the world's best majors performer this year in defending Lancome champion O'Meara. Said a relieved McGinley: "I just can't believe my neck has recovered so quickly. On Sunday I could still hardly move. I'd been wearing a neck brace for three days and I thought I was going to be out for at least three weeks. I was even worried I might not be fit to play in the Dunhill Cup. "Then I saw the specialist on Monday morning and he manipulated the five bones which I'd misplaced. Then gradually, the muscle spasms have stopped and I've been advised by the touring physio that it's alright to play.
"The problem came from too much practice, putting too much stress on my back and neck. Then when I slept and the muscles relaxed, just a slight movement could have caused the bones to pop. I'm not 100 per cent, but I can play and it's a great relief."
It will be a relief to Darren Clarke if rankings leader Lee Westwood and third-placed Colin Montgomerie do not steal too much of a march on him. The Ulsterman misses Paris to move back into his new home in Sunningdale.
While McGinley plays on after injury, it is the same for Philip Walton, making his first appearance after three weeks of worry with tendon pain in his right wrist. The Malahide man thought he might never finish this season.
"It's been a struggle, but the injury is okay. Now the game's gone. I haven't picked up a club for three weeks and Monday's Omagh Pro-Am was my first serious play. I played horrendous stuff and I just don't know how things will go this week."
Raymond Burns with only £16,500 banked he is looking for a minor miracle, too. Around £50,000 will be the card survival mark and Burns has just this week and the Belgian event as certainties, with a chance from third reserve in next week's German Masters.
"Just one good week will do it," said Burns. "I've certainly not given up hope if I can cut out the double-bogeys."
Padraig Harrington bids to end a poor run by his own high standards. Des Smyth and Eamonn Darcy hope to continue their steady climb up the rankings this week. Darcy is the first man out in this star-studded event with the best field since the British Open.
Jesper Parnevik has rejoined the European tour, making him eligible to earn points towards a berth in the 1999 European Ryder Cup squad, the European Tour said on Wednesday.
Parnevik gave up his European membership when he joined the US Tour in 1994 and has not played enough European events since then to be a member of his home tour.
