The Evian Championship

The Evian Championship, currently known for sponsorship reasons as The Amundi Evian Championship,[1] is a women's professional golf tournament in France, played at the Evian Resort Golf Club in Évian-les-Bains. It was originally held in June, moved to July in 2003, and moved again to September in 2013. It returned to a July date in 2019.

The Evian Championship
Tournament information
LocationÉvian-les-Bains,
Haute-Savoie, France
Established1994; 30 years ago (1994)
Course(s)Evian Resort Golf Club
Par71
Length6,523 yards (5,965 m)
6,482 yards (5,927 m) (2016)
Tour(s)Ladies European Tour
LPGA Tour
FormatStroke play - 72 holes
Prize fundUS$8.0 million
Month playedJuly (2019-present)
September (2013–2018)
July (2003-2012)
June (1994–2002)
Tournament record score
Aggregate263 Chun In-gee (2016)
To par−21 Juli Inkster (2003)
−21 Chun In-gee (2016)
Current champion
Japan Ayaka Furue
2024 Evian Championship
Evian Resort Golf Club is located in France
Evian Resort Golf Club
Evian Resort Golf Club

Founded 30 years ago in 1994 on the Ladies European Tour (LET) as the Evian Masters, it is one of two major championships on the LET. Not originally a major on the LPGA Tour, it became an LPGA co-sanctioned event in 2000, which included a significant increase in purse size. The purse was increased from $4.1 million[2] to $4.5 million effective with the 2021 event.[1] The 2022 event saw an increase in the purse to $6.5 million, with the winner earning $1 million.[3]

Originally a mid-June event, it was played in late July from 2003 to 2012, then moved to mid-September in 2013 when it became the final major for both tours. The average elevation of the course is approximately 480 metres (1,575 ft) above sea level and overlooks nearby Lake Geneva to the north.

In July 2011 it was announced that beginning in 2013, the Evian Masters would be renamed "The Evian Championship" and would become the fifth major on the LPGA Tour schedule and move to September.[4][5][6]

After the 2017 Evian Championship was reduced to 54 holes, LPGA commissioner Mike Whan admitted it was a mistake to move the major to a September date and vowed to move it back to summer by 2019. Furthermore, major changes in 2019 for the majors in men's golf, which will now be held in consecutive months – April, May, June, July – means the Evian can be held in August and be the final major in professional golf, men's or women's.[7] Ultimately, the new date for the Evian was set as the last full weekend in July, the week after The Open Championship (men's).[2]

In February 2021, the tournament organizers and French asset management firm Amundi jointly announced that the firm had become the tournament's title sponsor effective with the 2021 event to run for five years.[1]

Course

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Evian Resort Golf Club – (1994–present)

(a.k.a. Domaine du Royal Club Evian)

Field

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Prior to 2007, the event included 78 players, about half the size of a full-field LPGA Tour event, and was held over four days without a cut, meaning all players played all four days regardless of their scores. Beginning in 2007, the field was expanded to 90 players and a cut added after the second round. A cut means the players with the lowest 70 scores and anyone tied for 70th place play all four rounds and win prize money based on their final standing in the tournament. The other players are eliminated after the second round. The field was increased to 111 players in 2010[8] and 120 when it became a major in 2013.

Scoring record

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The tournament scoring record of 263 (−21) was set by Chun In-gee in 2016. The lowest round record is 61, jointly held by Leona Maguire, Lee Jeong-eun and Kim Hyo-joo.

Winners

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LET and LPGA co-sanctioned major (2013–present)

Year Dates Champion Score To par Margin
of victory
Runner(s)-up Purse
(US$)
Winner's
share
2024 11–14 Jul   Ayaka Furue 65-65-70-65=265 −19 1 stroke   Stephanie Kyriacou 8,000,000 1,200,000
2023 26–29 Jul   Céline Boutier 66-69-67-68=270 −14 6 strokes   Brooke Henderson 6,500,000 1,000,000
2022 21–24 Jul   Brooke Henderson 64-64-68-71=267 −17 1 stroke   Sophia Schubert 6,500,000 1,000,000
2021 22–25 Jul   Minjee Lee 68-69-65-64=266 −18 Playoff   Lee Jeong-eun 4,500,000 675,000
2020 Cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[9]
2019 25–28 Jul   Ko Jin-young 65-71-66-67=269 −15 2 strokes   Shanshan Feng
  Kim Hyo-joo
  Jennifer Kupcho
4,100,000 615,000
2018 13–16 Sep   Angela Stanford 72-64-68-68=272 −12 1 stroke   Austin Ernst
  Kim Sei-young
  Mo Martin
  Amy Olson
3,850,000 577,500
2017* 14–17 Sep   Anna Nordqvist 70-68-66=204 −9 Playoff   Brittany Altomare 3,650,000 547,500
2016 15–18 Sep   Chun In-gee 63-66-65-69=263 −21 4 strokes   Park Sung-hyun
  Ryu So-yeon
3,250,000 487,500
2015 10–13 Sep   Lydia Ko 69-69-67-63=268 −16 6 strokes   Lexi Thompson 3,250,000 487,500
2014 11–14 Sep   Kim Hyo-joo 61-72-72-68=273 −11 1 stroke   Karrie Webb 3,250,000 487,500
2013* 12–15 Sep   Suzann Pettersen 66-69-68=203 −10 2 strokes   Lydia Ko (a) 3,250,000 487,500

* Reduced to 54 holes due to rain

LET and LPGA co-sanctioned event (2000–2012)

Year Dates Champion Score To par Margin
of victory
Runner(s)-up Purse
(US$)
Winner's
share
Evian Masters
2012 26–29 Jul   Inbee Park 71-64-70-66=271 −17 2 strokes   Stacy Lewis
  Karrie Webb
3,250,000 487,500
2011 21–24 Jul   Ai Miyazato 68-68-67-70=273 −15 2 strokes   Stacy Lewis 3,250,000 487,500
2010 22–25 Jul   Jiyai Shin 68-70-71-66=274 −14 1 stroke   Choi Na-yeon
  Morgan Pressel
  Lexi Thompson
3,250,000 487,500
2009 23–26 Jul   Ai Miyazato 69-66-70-69=274 −14 Playoff   Sophie Gustafson 3,250,000 487,500
2008 24–27 Jul   Helen Alfredsson 72-63-71-67=273 −15 Playoff   Choi Na-yeon
  Angela Park
3,250,000 487,500
2007 26–29 Jul   Natalie Gulbis 72-69-73-70=284 −4 Playoff   Jang Jeong 3,000,000 450,000
2006 26–29 Jul   Karrie Webb 67-68-69-68=272 −16 1 stroke   Laura Davies
  Michelle Wie
3,000,000 450,000
2005 20–23 Jul   Paula Creamer 68-68-66-71=273 −15 8 strokes   Lorena Ochoa
  Michelle Wie
2,500,000 375,000
2004 21–24 Jul   Wendy Doolan 68-68-69-65=270 −18 1 stroke   Annika Sörenstam 2,500,000 375,000
2003 23–26 Jul   Juli Inkster 66-72-64-65=267 −21 6 strokes   Han Hee-won 2,100,000 315,000
2002 12–15 Jun   Annika Sörenstam 68-67-65-69=269 −19 4 strokes   Maria Hjorth
  Mi-Hyun Kim
2,100,000 315,000
2001 13–16 Jun   Rachel Teske 71-68-66-68=273 −15 1 stroke   Maria Hjorth 2,100,000 315,000
2000 14–17 Jun   Annika Sörenstam 70-68-70-68=276 −12 Playoff   Karrie Webb 1,800,000 270,000

LET event (1994–1999)

Year Dates Champion Score To par Margin
of victory
Runner(s)-up Purse
(£)
Winner's
share
Evian Masters
1999 9–12 Jun   Catrin Nilsmark 69-70-72-68=279 −9 2 strokes   Laura Davies 689,000 102,500
1998 3–6 Jun   Helen Alfredsson 70-69-73-65=277 −11 4 strokes   Maria Hjorth 500,000 75,000
1997 18–21 Jun   Hiromi Kobayashi 69-67-69-69=274 −14 Playoff   Alison Nicholas 425,000 63,750
1996 19–22 Jun   Laura Davies 72-69-65-68=274 −14 4 strokes   Carin Koch 375,000 56,250
1995 7–10 Jun   Laura Davies 68-67-69-67=271 −17 5 strokes   Annika Sörenstam 270,000 40,630
1994 9–12 Jun   Helen Alfredsson 71-73-73-70=287 −1 3 strokes   Lora Fairclough
  Sarah Gautrey
232,500 34,875

In 2017 Nordqvist won with a bogey 5 on the first extra hole. In 2009 Miyazato won with a birdie 4 on the first extra hole. In 2008 Alfredsson won with a birdie 4 on the third extra hole, Park having been eliminated when the other two players made birdies on the first extra hole. In 2007 Gulbis beat Jang with a birdie 4 on the first extra hole. In 2000 Sörenstam beat Webb with an eagle 3 on the first extra hole. In 1997 Kobayashi beat Nicholas with an eagle 3 on the first extra hole.

Multiple winners

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References

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  1. ^ a b c "Amundi Becomes Title Sponsor of The Evian Championship, Renamed The Amundi Evian Championship" (Press release). LPGA. 1 February 2021. Retrieved 3 February 2021.
  2. ^ a b "The Evian Championship Makes Date Change, Increases Purse" (Press release). LPGA. 7 March 2018. Retrieved 4 August 2018.
  3. ^ "The Amundi Evian Championship Increases its Prize Purse to $6.5 Million". LPGA. 17 May 2022. Retrieved 21 July 2022.
  4. ^ "LPGA Adds The Evian as a Major Championship in 2013" (Press release). LPGA. 20 July 2011. Retrieved 3 July 2019.
  5. ^ "Evian Masters to be 5th major in 2013". ESPN. Associated Press. 20 July 2011. Retrieved 21 July 2011.
  6. ^ "The Evian Championship". LPGA. Retrieved 15 January 2013.
  7. ^ Inglis, Martin (8 November 2017). "LPGA commissioner takes blame for major gaffe". bunkered.
  8. ^ "2010 Evian Masters - final leaderboard". Yahoo Sports. Retrieved 25 July 2011.
  9. ^ "Coronavirus & golf: LPGA Evian Championship in France cancelled". BBC Sport. 9 June 2020. Retrieved 9 June 2020.
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46°23′38″N 6°34′12″E / 46.394°N 6.570°E / 46.394; 6.570