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| Evian Championship | |
|---|---|
| Name | Evian Championship |
| Location | Évian-les-Bains, France |
| Established | 1994 |
| Course | Royal Golf Club Évian |
| Par | 71 |
| Yardage | 6329yd |
| Tour | Ladies European Tour, LPGA Tour |
| Format | Stroke play |
| Month played | September |
| Aggregate | 263 Annika Sörenstam (2002) |
| To par | −21 Annika Sörenstam (2002) |
| Current champion | Céline Herbin (example) |
Evian Championship is a premier women's professional golf tournament held annually at the Royal Golf Club Évian in Évian-les-Bains, Haute-Savoie, France. Originally founded as the Evian Masters, the event grew from a Ladies European Tour staple into one of five women's major championships on the LPGA Tour. The tournament attracts top players including Annika Sörenstam, Lorena Ochoa, Inbee Park, Lydia Ko, and Nelly Korda, and sits alongside majors such as the U.S. Women's Open, the Women's PGA Championship, the Women's British Open, and the Women's Open Championship.
The tournament began in 1994 as the Evian Masters, created by promoters in Thonon-les-Bains and backed by sponsors like the Danone group and regional authorities tied to Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes. Over the 1990s and 2000s it became a flagship event on the Ladies European Tour and attracted LPGA stars from United States, Sweden, Mexico, and South Korea. In 2000s the event saw champions such as Karrie Webb, Se Ri Pak, and Annika Sörenstam, while also hosting international players from Australia, Japan, and New Zealand. In 2013 the tournament was elevated to major status by the LPGA, joining the other women's majors and prompting discussions with organizations like the R&A and USGA about calendar alignment. The elevation followed precedents set by tournaments like the du Maurier Classic and the Women's British Open in previous decades. Changes in ownership and sponsorship involved corporations and entities such as Amundi and local government bodies.
The Royal Golf Club Évian sits on the shores of Lake Geneva near the Alps, offering views toward Mont Blanc and proximity to cities such as Geneva and Annecy. The course was originally designed by architects influenced by classic links and parkland styles and later modified by designers with pedigrees linked to clubs like St Andrews and Pebble Beach. The layout features signature holes with elevation changes, water hazards, and tree-lined fairways. The setting has attracted tourism from the Riviera region and international spectators traveling via Geneva Airport and rail links to stations like Evian-les-Bains station. The Royal Golf Club Évian has hosted national events and seen upgrades to practice facilities and spectator infrastructure in partnership with regional development agencies.
The championship is contested over 72 holes of stroke play across four rounds, with a 36-hole cut similar to formats used by the USGA and PGA of America for their events. The field comprises LPGA Tour members, Ladies European Tour members, and exempt players from major winners and tour money lists such as the LPGA Money List and the LET Order of Merit. Invitations and sponsor exemptions have historically included amateurs and professionals from tours including the KLPGA, JLPGA, and Symetra Tour. The tournament uses standard rules of golf as administered by the R&A and the USGA, and officiating has involved international rules officials and referees accredited by bodies like the PGA of America.
Past champions include global stars such as Annika Sörenstam, Ai Miyazato, Karrie Webb, Lorena Ochoa, So Yeon Ryu, Inbee Park, Lydia Ko, and Céline Boutier. Record performances feature low aggregate and to-par marks set during favorable conditions; for example, Annika Sörenstam posted a historic score in the early 2000s. Multiple-time winners and major champions who have triumphed at the venue have also held titles on tours like the LPGA Tour and the Ladies European Tour. Champions often move up global rankings such as the Women's World Golf Rankings and receive exemptions into other majors including the ANA Inspiration and the Kraft Nabisco Championship era events.
Players qualify through categories including past major champions, LPGA Tour winners, LET winners, top-ranked players on the Women's World Golf Rankings, and leading money lists from tours like the KLPGA and JLPGA. Special exemptions have been granted to amateurs who won championships such as the U.S. Women's Amateur or the British Ladies Amateur Championship, and to leading national champions from federations like Fédération Française de Golf. Regional qualifiers, sponsor invitations, and cumulative performance metrics such as the Rolex Rankings are used to fill the starting field in accordance with agreements between the LPGA and LET.
Broadcast rights have been held by international networks and platforms including outlets linked to NBC Sports, Golf Channel, Eurosport, and domestic French broadcasters, with streaming rights negotiated with digital platforms and rights holders in Asia and North America. The championship generates tourism revenue for Haute-Savoie and the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region, impacting hospitality sectors in towns like Évian-les-Bains and nearby resorts on Lake Geneva. Economic studies by regional chambers and analyses tied to events such as the Olympic Games and major football tournaments have been referenced to estimate direct and indirect impacts on employment, transportation, and brand exposure for sponsors such as Danone and financial institutions.
Notable moments include dramatic playoff victories, record low rounds by players from Sweden, South Korea, and New Zealand, and breakthrough major wins that propelled careers on the LPGA Tour and international circuits. Controversies have involved debates over major status recognition, scheduling conflicts with tournaments like the Women's British Open and the USGA championships, and commercial disputes involving sponsorship and broadcasting deals. Discussions around course changes, environmental management near Lake Geneva, and local planning approvals have involved regional governments, environmental groups, and heritage bodies.
Category:Women's golf tournaments Category:Golf tournaments in France