The head of France's only golf major says hosting the Ryder Cup won't help his country produce a star player. Asked at an eve-of-tournament news conference Wednesday about a stellar month for French golf, the women's Evian Championship chairman Franck Riboud dismissed what the Ryder Cup could achieve when it's played September 28-30 near Paris. The 12-man Europe team at Le Golf National has no players from France, and the top-ranked Frenchman is No. 97 Mike Lorenzo-Vera. ``We need a (French) champion, that's all,'' Riboud said. ``I think we need a project for the young French player to show we are a champion in the next five years. . We don't have a golf culture, we have to build it.'' Riboud is the long-time former chairman and chief executive of food giant Danone, which owns the Evian water brand. Danone is not a sponsor of the Ryder Cup but invests in golf tournaments for women and young players, including the Arnold Palmer Cup. ``Perhaps you are surprised,'' Riboud said. ``Because personally I think the Ryder Cup is not building or helping to reach the objective'' of developing talent. Though Tiger Woods is making a rare visit to France, Riboud played down the impact his selection for the United States team could have. ``No, the best ambassador for golf in France is going to the next French champion at the same level (as) Tiger Woods,'' the businessman said. ``Perhaps it's crazy but that's the thing we have to dream about.'' ``It's a champion who is pushing the young people,'' Riboud added, comparing the influence French champions had on participation in other sports. He singled out Alpine skiing great Jean-Claude Killy in the 1960s and tennis player Yannick Noah in the 1980s. Now retired from leading Danone, Riboud hinted he had ideas and time for the French golf federation. ``I have a plan, I proposed a plan _ I'm still waiting (for) the answer,'' the 62-year-old ``It's not my job. It could become my job. We are very happy in Evian, which is golf country.''
