THE EVIAN CHAMPIONSHIP
Evian Resort Golf Club
Evian-les Bains, France
TOP STORYLINES
FINAL MAJOR OF THE YEAR
The Evian Championship marks the fifth and final major in the 2015 LPGA season. Played at the rennovated Evian Resort Golf Club, The Evian Championship became a major on the LPGA Tour in 2013. Suzann Pettersen (2013) and Hyo Joo Kim (2014) are the first two winners of The Evian Championship.
The Evian Masters became an LPGA co-sanctioned event in 2000 and below is a list of the past winners of the event.
2012 - Inbee Park; 2011 - Ai Miyazato; 2010 - Jiyai Shin; 2009 - Ai Miyazato; 2008 - Helen Alfredsson; 2007 - Natalie Gulbis; 2006 - Karrie Webb; 2005 - Paula Creamer; 2004 - Wendy Doolan; 2003 - Juli Inkster; 2002 - Annika Sorenstam; 2001 - Rachel Teske; 2000 - Annika Sorenstam
RETURN TO THE BIG STAGE
Hyo Joo Kim’s major championship debut last year at the Evian Championship was one worthy of the record books. The then 19-year old KLPGA member stepped onto the big stage and opened the tournament with a 61 in the first round, a major record for any male or female player. The spectacular effort by Kim set the tone for the entire week and carried a one-shot lead over World Golf and LPGA Halls of Famer Karrie Webb into the final round.
Kim and Webb battled throughout the day on Sunday and looked like Webb was poised to win her eighth career major title. She held a one-shot lead heading to the 72nd hole but Kim sank a 12-foot birdie putt to pull even at 11-under par. Webb hit a tricky greenside chip shot 10 feet past the hole and failed to convert on the par putt and saw the major title slip away.
Kim would go on to become the third-youngest major champion in LPGA Tour history and took LPGA membership in 2015. She’s currently ranked No. 5 in the Rolex Rankings, the third-highest ranked South Korean behind No. 1 Inbee Park and No. 4 So Yeon Ryu. The rookie already has a win under her belt in 2015 at the JTBC Founders Cup and seven additional top-10 finishes.
Hyo Joo is currently ranked second in the Louise Suggs Rolex Rookie of the Year standings, trailing only Sei Young Kim by just 56 points.
SOLHEIM COMPETITORS IN ACTION
All 24 players set to play in next week’s Solheim Cup in Germany will be in action this week and use the major championship to fine-tune their games for the biennial match-play competition.
Team Europe will try to make it three in a row after defeating the Americans for the first time on U.S. soil in 2013.
Team USA features three winners on Tour this year (Cristie Kerr, Brittany Lincicome, Lexi Thompson) while Europe has two (Anna Nordqvist, Suzann Pettersen).
U.S. Captain Juli Inkster will also be competing this week and won this event in 2003 when she set the tournament scoring record, 21-under par 267.
PARK TO BE AWARDED THE ROLEX ANNIKA MAJOR AWARD
Rolex Rankings No. 1 Inbee Park has continued to solidify herself as one of the best major championship performers of all time and looks to continue too add to her legacy this week at the Evian Championship. The 27 year old won her seventh major championship last month at the RICOH Women’s British Open Championship achieving the Career Grand Slam and also clinching the Rolex ANNIKA Major Award.
“Well, I just missed out on that award last year,” said Park. “I was really close and I couldn’t wrap it up last year. But obviously it’s a prestigious award. Annika is a legendary player. She’s my idol…It feels a great honor to put my name on that award.”
Park sealed the deal after winning two major titles (KPMG Women’s PGA Championship & RICOH Women’s British Open) and a tie for third at the U.S. Women’s Open. Annika Sorenstam will officially present the award to Park at the Rolex ANNIKA Major Award ceremony on Saturday night in Evian.
The Rolex ANNIKA Major Award was established in 2014 to recognize the player who, during a current LPGA Tour season, has the most outstanding Major Championship record. A player must win a Major Championship to be eligible for the award. Points are awarded to players who finish in the top-10 at the Tour’s five Major Championships: 1st place - 60 pts.; 2nd place - 24 pts.; 3rd place - 18 pts.; 4th place - 14 pts.; 5th place - 12 pts.; 6th place - 10 pts.; 7th place - 8pts.; 8th place - 6 pts.; 9th place - 4 pts.; 10th place - 2 pts.
CHASING A SUPER CAREER GRAND SLAM
Inbee Park enters the week attempting to accomplish something only one other player in LPGA history has done.
Inbee has won four different majors and The Evian Championship is the final trophy she needs to secure a Super Career Grand Slam. Only Karrie Webb has won five different LPGA majors (Kraft Nabisco Championship, Women’s PGA Championship, du Maurier Classic, U.S. Women’s Open and the Women’s British Open).
And for players (active or retired) who have won five different majors available in their careers, the LPGA has and will continue to acknowledge them as having accomplished a Super Career Grand Slam.
Evian Resort Golf Club
Evian-les Bains, France
TOP STORYLINES
FINAL MAJOR OF THE YEAR
The Evian Championship marks the fifth and final major in the 2015 LPGA season. Played at the rennovated Evian Resort Golf Club, The Evian Championship became a major on the LPGA Tour in 2013. Suzann Pettersen (2013) and Hyo Joo Kim (2014) are the first two winners of The Evian Championship.
The Evian Masters became an LPGA co-sanctioned event in 2000 and below is a list of the past winners of the event.
2012 - Inbee Park; 2011 - Ai Miyazato; 2010 - Jiyai Shin; 2009 - Ai Miyazato; 2008 - Helen Alfredsson; 2007 - Natalie Gulbis; 2006 - Karrie Webb; 2005 - Paula Creamer; 2004 - Wendy Doolan; 2003 - Juli Inkster; 2002 - Annika Sorenstam; 2001 - Rachel Teske; 2000 - Annika Sorenstam
RETURN TO THE BIG STAGE
Hyo Joo Kim’s major championship debut last year at the Evian Championship was one worthy of the record books. The then 19-year old KLPGA member stepped onto the big stage and opened the tournament with a 61 in the first round, a major record for any male or female player. The spectacular effort by Kim set the tone for the entire week and carried a one-shot lead over World Golf and LPGA Halls of Famer Karrie Webb into the final round.
Kim and Webb battled throughout the day on Sunday and looked like Webb was poised to win her eighth career major title. She held a one-shot lead heading to the 72nd hole but Kim sank a 12-foot birdie putt to pull even at 11-under par. Webb hit a tricky greenside chip shot 10 feet past the hole and failed to convert on the par putt and saw the major title slip away.
Kim would go on to become the third-youngest major champion in LPGA Tour history and took LPGA membership in 2015. She’s currently ranked No. 5 in the Rolex Rankings, the third-highest ranked South Korean behind No. 1 Inbee Park and No. 4 So Yeon Ryu. The rookie already has a win under her belt in 2015 at the JTBC Founders Cup and seven additional top-10 finishes.
Hyo Joo is currently ranked second in the Louise Suggs Rolex Rookie of the Year standings, trailing only Sei Young Kim by just 56 points.
SOLHEIM COMPETITORS IN ACTION
All 24 players set to play in next week’s Solheim Cup in Germany will be in action this week and use the major championship to fine-tune their games for the biennial match-play competition.
Team Europe will try to make it three in a row after defeating the Americans for the first time on U.S. soil in 2013.
Team USA features three winners on Tour this year (Cristie Kerr, Brittany Lincicome, Lexi Thompson) while Europe has two (Anna Nordqvist, Suzann Pettersen).
U.S. Captain Juli Inkster will also be competing this week and won this event in 2003 when she set the tournament scoring record, 21-under par 267.
PARK TO BE AWARDED THE ROLEX ANNIKA MAJOR AWARD
Rolex Rankings No. 1 Inbee Park has continued to solidify herself as one of the best major championship performers of all time and looks to continue too add to her legacy this week at the Evian Championship. The 27 year old won her seventh major championship last month at the RICOH Women’s British Open Championship achieving the Career Grand Slam and also clinching the Rolex ANNIKA Major Award.
“Well, I just missed out on that award last year,” said Park. “I was really close and I couldn’t wrap it up last year. But obviously it’s a prestigious award. Annika is a legendary player. She’s my idol…It feels a great honor to put my name on that award.”
Park sealed the deal after winning two major titles (KPMG Women’s PGA Championship & RICOH Women’s British Open) and a tie for third at the U.S. Women’s Open. Annika Sorenstam will officially present the award to Park at the Rolex ANNIKA Major Award ceremony on Saturday night in Evian.
The Rolex ANNIKA Major Award was established in 2014 to recognize the player who, during a current LPGA Tour season, has the most outstanding Major Championship record. A player must win a Major Championship to be eligible for the award. Points are awarded to players who finish in the top-10 at the Tour’s five Major Championships: 1st place - 60 pts.; 2nd place - 24 pts.; 3rd place - 18 pts.; 4th place - 14 pts.; 5th place - 12 pts.; 6th place - 10 pts.; 7th place - 8pts.; 8th place - 6 pts.; 9th place - 4 pts.; 10th place - 2 pts.
| Rank | Player | Points | Wins |
| 1 | Inbee Park | 138 | 2 |
| 2 | Brittany Lincicome | 74 | 1 |
| 3 | In Gee Chun | 60 | 1 |
| T4 | Stacy Lewis | 42 | 0 |
| T4 | Morgan Pressel | 42 | 0 |
CHASING A SUPER CAREER GRAND SLAM
Inbee Park enters the week attempting to accomplish something only one other player in LPGA history has done.
Inbee has won four different majors and The Evian Championship is the final trophy she needs to secure a Super Career Grand Slam. Only Karrie Webb has won five different LPGA majors (Kraft Nabisco Championship, Women’s PGA Championship, du Maurier Classic, U.S. Women’s Open and the Women’s British Open).
And for players (active or retired) who have won five different majors available in their careers, the LPGA has and will continue to acknowledge them as having accomplished a Super Career Grand Slam.
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