The Evian Championship
 | |
| Tournament information | |
|---|---|
| Location |
Évian-les-Bains, Haute-Savoie, France |
| Established | 1994 |
| Course(s) | Evian Resort Golf Club |
| Par | 71 |
| Length |
6,482 yards (5,927 m) in 2016 |
| Tour(s) |
Ladies European Tour LPGA Tour |
| Format | Stroke play - 72 holes |
| Prize fund | US$3.25 million |
| Month played | September |
| Tournament record score | |
| Aggregate | 263 Chun In-gee (2016) |
| To par |
−21 Juli Inkster (2003) −21 Chun In-gee (2016) |
| Current champion | |
 Chun In-gee | |
 2016 Evian Championship | |
The Evian Championship is a women's professional golf tournament in France, played at the Evian Resort Golf Club in Évian-les-Bains each September.
Founded 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. Its current purse of US$3.25 million makes it the second-richest event in women's golf, after the U.S. Women's Open (which increased its purse from $3.25 million to $4 million in 2014). Originally a mid-June event, it was played in late July from 2003 to 2012, then moved to mid-September in 2013 when it became the final major for both tours. The course is at an average elevation of approximately 480 metres (1,575 ft) above sea level and overlooks nearby Lake Geneva to the north.
In July 2011 it was announced that beginning in 2013, the Evian Masters would be renamed "The Evian Championship" and would become the fifth major on the LPGA Tour schedule and move to September.[1][2][3]
Field
Prior to 2007, the event included 78 players, about half the size of a full-field LPGA Tour event, and was held over four days without a cut, meaning all players played all four days regardless of their scores. Beginning in 2007, the field was expanded to 90 players and a cut added after the second round. A cut means the players with the lowest 70 scores and anyone tied for 70th place play all four rounds and win prize money based on their final standing in the tournament. The other players are eliminated after the second round. The field was increased to 111 players in 2010.[4]
Multiple winners and scoring records
Multiple winners of the event are Helen Alfredsson (1994, 1998, 2008), Annika Sörenstam (2000, 2002), and Ai Miyazato (2009, 2011). The tournament scoring record of 263 (−21) was set by Chun In-gee in 2016.
Tournament course
Evian Resort Golf Club – (1994–present)
(a.k.a. Domaine du Royal Club Evian)
Winners
LET and LPGA co-sanctioned major (2013–present)
| Year | Dates | Champion | Country | Score | To par | Margin of victory | Purse (US$) | Winner's share |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | Sep 15–18 | Chun In-gee | South Korea | 63-66-65-69=263 | −21 | 4 strokes | 3,250,000 | 487,500 |
| 2015 | Sep 10–13 | Lydia Ko |  New Zealand | 69-69-67-63=268 | −16 | 6 strokes | 3,250,000 | 487,500 |
| 2014 | Sep 11–14 | Kim Hyo-joo | South Korea | 61-72-72-68=273 | −11 | 1 stroke | 3,250,000 | 487,500 |
| 2013* | Sep 12–15 | Suzann Pettersen |  Norway | 66-69-68=203 | −10 | 2 strokes | 3,250,000 | 487,500 |
* Tournament shortened to 54 holes because of rain
LET and LPGA co-sanctioned event (2000–2012)
| Year | Dates | Champion | Country | Score | To par | Margin of victory | Purse (US$) | Winner's share |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 | Jul 26–29 | Inbee Park | South Korea | 71-64-70-66=271 | −17 | 2 strokes | 3,250,000 | 487,500 |
| 2011 | Jul 21–24 | Ai Miyazato |  Japan | 68-68-67-70=273 | −15 | 2 strokes | 3,250,000 | 487,500 |
| 2010 | Jul 22–25 | Jiyai Shin | South Korea | 68-70-71-66=274 | −14 | 1 stroke | 3,250,000 | 487,500 |
| 2009 | Jul 23–26 | Ai Miyazato | Japan | 69-66-70-69=274 | −14 | Playoff | 3,250,000 | 487,500 |
| 2008 | Jul 24–27 | Helen Alfredsson |  Sweden | 72-63-71-67=273 | −15 | Playoff | 3,250,000 | 487,500 |
| 2007 | Jul 26–29 | Natalie Gulbis |  United States | 72-69-73-70=284 | −4 | Playoff | 3,000,000 | 450,000 |
| 2006 | Jul 26–29 | Karrie Webb |  Australia | 67-68-69-68=272 | −16 | 1 stroke | 3,000,000 | 450,000 |
| 2005 | Jul 20–23 | Paula Creamer | United States | 68-68-66-71=273 | −15 | 8 strokes | 2,500,000 | 375,000 |
| 2004 | Jul 21–24 | Wendy Doolan | Australia | 68-68-69-65=270 | −18 | 1 stroke | 2,500,000 | 375,000 |
| 2003 | Jul 23–26 | Juli Inkster | United States | 66-72-64-65=267 | −21 | 6 strokes | 2,100,000 | 315,000 |
| 2002 | Jun 12–15 | Annika Sörenstam | Sweden | 68-67-65-69=269 | −19 | 4 strokes | 2,100,000 | 315,000 |
| 2001 | Jun 13–16 | Rachel Teske | Australia | 71-68-66-68=273 | −15 | 1 stroke | 2,100,000 | 315,000 |
| 2000 | Jun 14–17 | Annika Sörenstam | Sweden | 70-68-70-68=276 | −12 | Playoff | 1,800,000 | 270,000 |
LET event (1994–1999)
| Year | Dates | Champion | Country | Score | To par | Margin of victory | Purse | Winner's share |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | Jun 9–12 | Catrin Nilsmark | Sweden | 69-70-72-68=279 | −9 | 2 strokes | FF6,700,000 | FF1,005,000 |
| 1998 | Jun 3–6 | Helen Alfredsson | Sweden | 70-69-73-65=277 | −11 | 4 strokes | £500,000 | £75,000 |
| 1997 | Jun 18–21 | Hiromi Kobayashi | Japan | 69-67-69-69=274 | −14 | Playoff | £425,000 | £63,750 |
| 1996 | Jun 19–22 | Laura Davies |  England | 72-69-65-68=274 | −14 | 4 strokes | FF3,000,000 | FF450,000 |
| 1995 | Jun 7–10 | Laura Davies | England | 68-67-69-67=271 | −17 | 5 strokes | £40,630 | |
| 1994 | Jun 9–12 | Helen Alfredsson | Sweden | 71-73-73-70=287 | −1 | 3 strokes |
References
- ↑ "LPGA Adds The Evian as a Major Championship in 2013" (Press release). LPGA. 20 July 2011. Retrieved 24 July 2011.
- ↑ "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.
- ↑ "2010 Evian Masters - final leaderboard". Yahoo Sports. Retrieved 25 July 2011.
External links
Coordinates: 46°23′38″N 6°34′12″E / 46.394°N 6.570°E