By Sarah Kellam
NAPLES, Fla. — French compatriots Celine Boutier and Matthieu Pavon didn’t meet each other until the 2024 Olympics.
The pair qualified to represent their country in Paris this past August, a special opportunity for both athletes and one they got to experience together as part of Team France. However, even though the two had heard of each other and knew of each other’s successes on their respective tours, Boutier and Pavon hadn’t interacted much before their home Games in France.
But they’ve now become friends after creating plenty of shared memories while competing on the biggest global stage in all of sports in front of a ravenous and enthusiastic native-country crowd.
“I think it was unreal the amount of people that showed and the atmosphere, how much into it they were,” Boutier said of her second Olympic appearance. “I remember being on the first tee because I was there the week before when the men were playing, and thankfully, I was about to watch Matt’s tee shot, and I was completely in shock at how many people and how they were cheering for us and for them. It was, for me, a good preview to prepare myself and get mentally ready.”
Pavon recalls struggling to keep his emotions in check on the first tee of that first round at Le Golf National, overwhelmed by the magnitude of what he would likely consider to be a career-defining moment in his native France.
“I had that little success so far last year, but this was nothing compared to what I expected and what I had to face during that tee shot when I opened the Olympics on Thursday,” Pavon remembered. “I had almost (found) myself crying (and) tried to hide it because it was so special. All those people coming for you, cheering for you, singing the national anthem, it was something I never experienced before, and I wished to everyone who plays golf and who loves this game to have the chance to one day experience something like that.”
That event just a few months ago ultimately laid the groundwork for their partnership at this week’s Grant Thornton Invitational, and now, the two have teamed up for the second edition of the mixed-gender team event and are off to a strong start after day one in Naples, Fla. Boutier and Pavon carded a 9-under 63 in the first-round scramble, an effort that saw them make nine birdies on the Gold Course at Tiburón Golf Club, five of which came consecutively on holes five through nine.
“I thought it was a pretty good day,” Boutier said after round one. “Got definitely pretty windy towards the second half of the round, so we were able to stay patient. We started kind of slow but got a few birdies going. I think we had a few shots in there that I feel like we could have done better, but overall, a pretty solid day, and looking forward to the rest of the week.”
Pavon agreed. “I think it was a pretty enjoyable round,” he said. “Everything was made to be a great day. Played pretty good. I missed a few putts on the back nine. Could have been a very nice score.”
Despite not knowing each other incredibly well, a common occurrence in this blended event, Boutier and Pavon still have plenty of respect for each other’s games. Pavon made history on the PGA Tour earlier this year with his win at the Farmers Insurance Open, becoming the first Frenchman to win on the PGA Tour since 1907. When Amanda Balionis asked Pavon on the final green at Torrey Pines what a victory like this would do for golf in France, he took the opportunity to laud Boutier’s play on the LPGA Tour.
“We have already a big champion, Celine Boutier,” said Pavon. “She won (The Amundi Evian Championship) last year. She’s truly a champion, so I kind of just try to step in and try to copy her. She has a major, so let’s dream about it now.”
Eleven months later, those feelings haven’t changed. Pavon once again sang Boutier’s praises when asked what he admired about his female counterpart, embarrassing his partner a little bit with his compliments about her significance to French golf.
“This is why I feel like (the Grant Thornton Invitational is) a great tournament because I’m not sharing a lot of time during the year with Celine, and she’s probably the best player ever in France,” Pavon said on Friday. “She won a major. She’s had a very, very successful career so far. It’s all about watching what she’s got and what she does better than most other players, and that’s very nice for me.”
Boutier has also been impressed with what she has gotten to witness up close and personally in Pavon’s game, particularly taking interest in his ball-striking ability and his power off the tee. “Matt is a very long hitter, and it’s been very nice for me to be able to be on the green in two on a par 5 and having a lot shorter clubs in,” Boutier said. “The ball-striking has been really fun to watch. I think he’s also a great putter, too. He’s made a lot of solid putts, so it was very inspiring to see.”
Saturday’s second round will see the 16-team field play foursomes, also known as alternate shot, one of the trickiest formats in team golf. But Boutier and Pavon have plenty to build on after their Friday 63 and will once again enjoy the walk alongside each other on day two of the Grant Thornton Invitational.
