A huge supporter of French golf, Jean has possibly done more to promote the sport in his homeland than any other player.
He has been the proud host of the WCM Legends Open de France from 2019 to 2023.
He is a two-time winner on the DP World Tour, but Jean is perhaps more famous for what happened at Carnoustie in The Open in 1999. A three-shot lead as he stood on the 18th tee in the final round, he would go on to card a triple-bogey seven and ultimately lose in a play-off – won by Paul Lawrie.
The image of Van de Velde stood in the Barry Burn, barefoot and with his trousers rolled up, has become iconic.
He returned to Carnoustie in 2016 to play in the Senior Open.
Jean played in the 1999 European Ryder Cup team at Brookline, he also represented France 12 times in the World Cup of Golf and six times in the Alfred Dunhill Cup.
In 2012 UNICEF France named Van de Velde as one of their ambassadors.