The Amundi Evian Championship, the fourth Major of the year, returns to the fairways of the Evian Resort Golf Club in Evian-les-Bains, France, from Thursday, to celebrate its 30th anniversary in the company of the world’s best players and the finest newcomers to the game.
With a prize fund of US $8 million, including US $1.2 million for the winner, the final field of 132 competitors includes players from 30 nations and features 42 of the top 50 players the Rolex Women’s World Golf Rankings, including nine of the top ten.
Eight former champions in the field
Céline Boutier (pictured below), is back to defend her title. On the strength of her historic 2023 season, the first Frenchwoman to add her name to the list of champions at the major, and current world No.6, returns to Evian with the aim of confirming her success. She is joined by fellow former champions Brooke Henderson of Canada (2022), Minjee Lee of Australia (2021), Jin Young Ko from South Korea (2019), Angela Stanford of the United States (2018), Anna Nordqvist from Sweden (2017), Lydia Ko of New Zealand (2015) and Hyo-Joo Kim of South Korea (2014).
2024 LET winners vying for more success
There are 12 tournament winners from 2024 in the Amundi Evian Championship field this week: Shannon Tan of Singapore, (Magical Kenya Ladies Open), Patty Tavatanakit of Thailand, (Aramco Saudi Ladies International Presented by PIF), Bronte Law from England (Lalla Meryem Cup), Alexandra Forsterling of Germany (Aramco Team Series Presented by PIF – Tampa and Amundi German Masters), Chiara Tamburlini of Switzerland (Joburg Ladies Open), Manon De Roey from Belgium (Investec South African Women’s Open), Hyo-Joo Kim of South Korea (Aramco Team Series Presented by PIF – Korea), Morgane Metraux of Switzerland (Jabra Ladies Open), Perrine Delacour of France, (Dormy Open Helsingborg), Linn Grant from Sweden, (Volvo Car Scandinavian Mixed), Marta Martin of Spain (Tipsport Czech Ladies Open) and Leona Maguire of Ireland (Aramco Team Series Presented by PIF – London).
LET Members making their Evian debuts
Of the 44 LET Members in the championship field, there are seven LET players making their Amundi Evian Championship debuts. They are Alexa Pano from the USA, Trichat Cheenglab from Thailand, Alexandra Försterling from Germany, Chiara Tamburlini of Switzerland, Shannon Tan of Singapore, Marta Martin of Spain and Nataliya Guseva.
Rolex Rankings Top 10 players in attendance
At the top of the list, Nelly Korda(USA) is firmly established as world number one, with 6 victories from 11 tournaments played since the start of the season. Just behind her is her compatriot Lilia Vu(world No. 2), who, after a crazy year in 2023 at the top of the world rankings, is taking 2024 in her stride. Back in top form after a back injury and a 3-month break, she followed up her LPGA Tour victory with a 2nd-place finish at the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship. Behind her, the other players in the field are all vying to shine, from Jin Young Ko(KOR), world N°3 and winner of The Amundi Evian Championship in 2019, to Amy Yang (KOR), world N°5 and winner of the 3rd major of the season, as well as defending champion Céline Boutier (FRA), world No.6, Hannah Green (AUS), world No.7, Charley Hull (ENG), world No.8, Rose Zhang (USA) world No.9 and Yuka Saso (JPN), world No.10. A total of nine amateur players, with an average age of 20, will also be lining up at the start of The Amundi Evian Championship, led by England’s Lottie Woad (20), current world No.1 and first European winner of this year’s Augusta National Women’s Amateur.
Players coming in from The Championships, Wimbledon
Anna Nordqvist, Rose Zhang and Brooke Henderson were guests of Rolex at the Wimbledon Tennis Championships on Sunday. Charley Hull, Emily Kristine Pedersen, Marina Alex and Gemma Dryburgh were also at Wimbledon having an ace time and showing off their style.
Anna said: “I love sports and tennis is one of my favourite sports to follow. It’s been a childhood dream of mine and a bucket list thing to attend Wimbledon one day. I’m grateful for the opportunity to attend this year as a guest of Rolex and I loved every moment of it. TV doesn’t do justice to how special the place is and I left with a smile on my face, inspired to tee it up at Evian.”
