The stars of the LET are ready for the Amundi Evian Championship, which starts tomorrow at Evian Resort Golf Club in Evian-les-Bains, France.
This year’s field of 132 players includes the top 50 Players on the Rolex Women’s World Golf Rankings as well as the top players from the LET’s Race to Costa del Sol.
LET Rookie, Agathe Laisne from Paris, France, who has received a sponsor invitation, will get the Major Championship under way when she strikes the first tee shot at 7.15am.
Other LET players to watch include Tiia Koivisto from Finland, who qualified by winning the Jabra Ladies Open and fellow debutants Manon De Roey of Belgium, Magdalena Simmermacher from Argentina and Swedish pair Maja Stark and Linn Grant.
Speaking at Evian Resort on Wednesday, De Roey said: “I’m super excited to be here this week. I fought hard for my spot, through the ranking. I’ve played the course a few times before so I’m quite familiar with it. I’m just really excited to be here.
“You have to be on you’re a game and hit every shot perfectly. Playing in the Jabra Ladies Open definitely gave me some confidence for this week.
“The next five weeks are very important with some big tournaments. I don’t have too many expectations. I’m here and I have nothing to lose. I can only gain things from this week.”
Simmermacher commented: “I’m feeling good. I think it’s good that we played the Jabra Ladies Open here only two months ago. It’s nice to get to know the course before as you’re not so stressed about having to know everything.
“I felt last year at the British Open that I needed to know everything. This year is a little bit more relaxed and I try to do my best.
“I think the course is longer and the ball ran more at the Jabra. Now it’s more soft and the rough is thicker and longer, which is what we expected for a major.
“I have fewer expectations of myself. I do think that if I can play well, I could do well, if my game goes to plan, but if not, it’s a great experience.”
The returning players include England’s Meghan MacLaren, South African Lee-Anne Pace, Germany’s Olivia Cowan, Finland’s Sanna Nuutinen, Australian Stephanie Kyriacou and Johanna Gustavsson, who played in the championship in 2017, the year that her compatriot, Anna Nordqvist, won.
Gustavsson, who caddied for her husband Alex Wrigley in The 150th Open on the Old Course at St. Andrews last week, is happy to be competing again.
She said: “It feels good. I haven’t played in two weeks now, so I’m ready to get back to playing. I think the course looks great. I really like it here. I’ve played the course a lot of times and I’m excited to get going.”
Gustavsson finished tied for third in the Jabra Ladies Open in May and added: “It’s a course that you have to play a few times to learn the breaks on the greens and where to be and what positions to avoid. I’ve figured out a few things throughout the years.
“I’ve played in quite a few majors now so I’m starting to feel comfortable being here with the best players.
“In 2017, it was a bit different because it was my first major and it felt very overwhelming. I didn’t play that well and there was a lot of rain that year. The first round was cancelled so was only had three rounds and it was a bit different. I feel more ready now.
“I just expect to play the game that I’ve played all year, really. I hope I can just keep doing what I’m doing, be on the right sides of the pins and hole a few putts.”
