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.
 | |
| Tournament information | |
|---|---|
| Location | Évian-les-Bains, Haute-Savoie, France |
| Established | 1994 |
| Course(s) | Evian Resort Golf Club |
| Par | 71 |
| Length | 6,523 yards (5,965 m) 6,482 yards (5,927 m) (2016) |
| Tour(s) | Ladies European Tour LPGA Tour |
| Format | Stroke play - 72 holes |
| Prize fund | US$6.5 million |
| Month played | July (2019-present) September (2013–2018) July (2003-2012) June (1994–2002) |
| Tournament record score | |
| Aggregate | 263 Chun In-gee (2016) |
| To par | −21 Juli Inkster (2003) −21 Chun In-gee (2016) |
| Current champion | |
 Céline Boutier | |
 2023 Evian Championship | |
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
editEvian Resort Golf Club – (1994–present)
(a.k.a. Domaine du Royal Club Evian)
Field
editPrior 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
editThe 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
editLET and LPGA co-sanctioned major (2013–present)
| Year | Dates | Champion | Score | To par | Margin of victory | Runner(s)-up | Purse (US$) | Winner's share | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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
edit- Helen Alfredsson (1994, 1998, 2008)
- Laura Davies (1995, 1996)
- Annika Sörenstam (2000, 2002)
- Ai Miyazato (2009, 2011)
References
edit- ^ 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.
- ^ a b "The Evian Championship Makes Date Change, Increases Purse" (Press release). LPGA. 7 March 2018. Retrieved 4 August 2018.
- ^ "The Amundi Evian Championship Increases its Prize Purse to $6.5 Million". LPGA. 17 May 2022. Retrieved 21 July 2022.
- ^ "LPGA Adds The Evian as a Major Championship in 2013" (Press release). LPGA. 20 July 2011. Retrieved 3 July 2019.
- ^ "Evian Masters to be 5th major in 2013". ESPN. Associated Press. 20 July 2011. Retrieved 21 July 2011.
- ^ "The Evian Championship". LPGA. Retrieved 15 January 2013.
- ^ Inglis, Martin (8 November 2017). "LPGA commissioner takes blame for major gaffe". bunkered.
- ^ "2010 Evian Masters - final leaderboard". Yahoo Sports. Retrieved 25 July 2011.
- ^ "Coronavirus & golf: LPGA Evian Championship in France cancelled". BBC Sport. 9 June 2020. Retrieved 9 June 2020.