The Evian Championship

The Evian Championship
Tournament information
Location Évian-les-Bains,
Haute-Savoie, France
Established 1994
Course(s) Evian Resort Golf Club
Par 71
Length 6,428 yards (5,878 m)
in 2013
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 267 Juli Inkster (2003)
To par −21 Juli Inkster (2003)
Current champion
South Korea Kim Hyo-joo
2015 Evian Championship
Evian Resort Golf Club
Location in France

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 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 267 (−21) was set by Juli Inkster in 2003.

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)

YearDatesChampionCountryScoreTo parMargin
of victory
Purse
(US$)
Winner's
share
2015 Sep 10–13 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)

YearDatesChampionCountryScoreTo parMargin
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 strokes3,250,000 487,500
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 Playoff3,250,000 487,500
2008 Jul 24–27Helen Alfredsson  Sweden 72-63-71-67=273−15 Playoff3,250,000 487,500
2007 Jul 26–29Natalie Gulbis  United States 72-69-73-70=284−4 Playoff3,000,000 450,000
2006 Jul 26–29Karrie Webb  Australia 67-68-69-68=272−161 stroke3,000,000 450,000
2005 Jul 20–23Paula Creamer  United States68-68-66-71=273−15 8 strokes2,500,000 375,000
2004 Jul 21–24Wendy Doolan  Australia68-68-69-65=270 −18 1 stroke2,500,000 375,000
2003 Jul 23–26Juli Inkster  United States66-72-64-65=267−21 6 strokes2,100,000 315,000
2002 Jun 12–15Annika Sörenstam  Sweden68-67-65-69=269 −194 strokes2,100,000 315,000
2001 Jun 13–16Rachel Teske  Australia 71-68-66-68=273−15 1 stroke2,100,000 315,000
2000 Jun 14–17Annika Sörenstam  Sweden70-68-70-68=276−12 Playoff1,800,000 270,000

LET event (1994–1999)

YearDatesChampionCountryScoreTo parMargin
of victory
PurseWinner's
share
1999 Jun 9–12Catrin Nilsmark  Sweden69-70-72-68=279−9 2 strokes FF6,700,000 FF1,005,000
1998 Jun 3–6Helen Alfredsson  Sweden70-69-73-65=277−11 4 strokes £500,000 £75,000
1997 Jun 18–21Hiromi Kobayashi  Japan69-67-69-69=274−14 Playoff£425,000 £63,750
1996 Jun 19–22 Laura Davies  England72-69-65-68=274−14 4 strokes FF3,000,000 FF450,000
1995Jun 7–10Laura Davies  England 68-67-69-67=271−17 5 strokes £40,630
1994Jun 9–12 Helen Alfredsson  Sweden71-73-73-70=287−13 strokes

References

  1. "LPGA Adds The Evian as a Major Championship in 2013" (Press release). LPGA. 20 July 2011. Retrieved 24 July 2011.
  2. "Evian Masters to be 5th major in 2013". ESPN. Associated Press. 20 July 2011. Retrieved 21 July 2011.
  3. "The Evian Championship". LPGA. Retrieved 15 January 2013.
  4. "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