 | |
| Tournament information | |
|---|---|
| Location | Évian-les-Bains, Haute-Savoie, France |
| Established | 1994 |
| Course(s) | Evian Resort Golf Club |
| Par | 71 |
| Length | 6,523 yards (5,965 m) 6,482 yards (5,927 m) (2016) |
| Tour(s) | Ladies European Tour LPGA Tour |
| Format | Stroke play - 72 holes |
| Prize fund | US$8.0 million |
| Month played | July (2019-present) September (2013–2018) July (2003-2012) June (1994–2002) |
| Tournament record score | |
| Aggregate | 263 Chun In-gee (2016) |
| To par | −21 Juli Inkster (2003) −21 Chun In-gee (2016) |
| Current champion | |
 Ayaka Furue | |
 2024 Evian Championship | |
The Evian Championship, currently known for sponsorship reasons as The Amundi Evian Championship,[1] is a women's professional golf tournament in France, played at the Evian Resort Golf Club in Évian-les-Bains. It was originally held in June, moved to July in 2003, and moved again to September in 2013. It returned to a July date in 2019.
Founded 30 years ago 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. The purse was increased from $4.1 million[2] to $4.5 million effective with the 2021 event.[1] The 2022 event saw an increase in the purse to $6.5 million, with the winner earning $1 million.[3]
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 average elevation of the course is 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.[4][5][6]
After the 2017 Evian Championship was reduced to 54 holes, LPGA commissioner Mike Whan admitted it was a mistake to move the major to a September date and vowed to move it back to summer by 2019. Furthermore, major changes in 2019 for the majors in men's golf, which will now be held in consecutive months – April, May, June, July – means the Evian can be held in August and be the final major in professional golf, men's or women's.[7] Ultimately, the new date for the Evian was set as the last full weekend in July, the week after The Open Championship (men's).[2]
In February 2021, the tournament organizers and French asset management firm Amundi jointly announced that the firm had become the tournament's title sponsor effective with the 2021 event to run for five years.[1]
- ^ a b c "Amundi Becomes Title Sponsor of The Evian Championship, Renamed The Amundi Evian Championship" (Press release). LPGA. 1 February 2021. Retrieved 3 February 2021.
- ^ a b "The Evian Championship Makes Date Change, Increases Purse" (Press release). LPGA. 7 March 2018. Retrieved 4 August 2018.
- ^ "The Amundi Evian Championship Increases its Prize Purse to $6.5 Million". LPGA. 17 May 2022. Retrieved 21 July 2022.
- ^ "LPGA Adds The Evian as a Major Championship in 2013" (Press release). LPGA. 20 July 2011. Retrieved 3 July 2019.
- ^ "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.
- ^ Inglis, Martin (8 November 2017). "LPGA commissioner takes blame for major gaffe". bunkered.