Tag: Amundi Evian Championship

Celine Boutier holds three-shot lead on home soil at 2023 Evian Championship

Can Boutier close the deal on Sunday with several big names chasing her down?

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Celine Boutier is the 15th-ranked player in the world, has won three times on the LPGA, has played in two Solheim Cups and represented France at the Olympics. But if she wins Sunday, she’ll elevate her career to the next level.

Boutier holds a three-shot lead after 54 holes of the 2023 Amundi Evian Championship at Evian Resort Golf Club in Evian-les-Bains, France.

The 29-year-old followed up her first two rounds (66-69) with a 4-under 67 on Saturday to solidify her spot atop the leaderboard at 11 under.

The Frenchwoman will have to hold off a slew of big-name players on Sunday if she wants to hoist her first major championship trophy on home soil.

The low round of the day belonged to Nelly Korda, who shot a bogey-free 7-under 64. She rocketed up the board on Day 3, now sitting at T-5 with Yuka Saso, five back of Boutier.

Nasa Hataoka is alone in second at 8 under while Minjee Lee and Brooke Henderson are tied for third at 7 under.

Coverage of the final round will be available on Golf Channel from 5:30-11 a.m. ET Sunday.

Some big names missed the cut at the 2023 Amundi Evian Championship

There’s also a slew of big-name LPGA golfers who are done for the week at Evian Resort Golf Club

They’re heading to the weekend at the 2023 Amundi Evian Championship, with Celine Boutier leading on home soil after 36 holes.

Others making the cut include Brooke Henderson, Jin Young Ko, Minjee Lee, Rose Zhang, Lydia Ko and Nelly Korda (on her birthday).

Carlota Ciganta won’t play the weekend not because of a missed cut but because of a disqualification after Thursday’s first round. She officially was booted for signing an incorrect scorecard after being put on the clock for slow play.

There’s also a slew of big-name LPGA golfers who are already done for the week after missing the cut at Evian Resort Golf Club in Evians-Les-Bains, France, site of the fourth of five LPGA majors this year.

Amundi Evian Championship Friday 5 things: Celine Boutier eyes win on home soil

Boutier has posted rounds of 66 and 69 to get to 7 under for the championship.

Celine Boutier has three LPGA wins. A victory this week, though, would be her biggest by far.

After 36 holes at the 2023 Amundi Evian Championship in Evian-Les-Bains, France, the fourth of five LPGA majors in 2023, Boutier, a native of the host nation, holds a one-shot lead after hitting 10 of 13 fairways and 15 of 18 greens Friday.

Boutier has posted rounds of 66 and 69 to get to 7 under for the championship. She has 10 birdies and just three bogeys over the first two days.

She admitted to feeling the nerves of playing on home soil in a major.

“It’s definitely not easy. I feel like in the past I’ve definitely, you know, not handled it very well. I just feel like I put a lot of pressure on myself because I don’t want to disappoint anybody,” she said.”If I learned anything from the past, I really have to just focus on the job and on the course, on each shot. I feel like that’s really helped me really stay focused and not get ahead or think too much about the plans.”

Boutier is trying to treat this like any other tournament but there’s no avoiding things like doing news conferences twice, in two different languages.

“I feel like it’s a positive thing that the French media is talking about women’s golf and Evian,” she said. “I feel like anything I can do to bring more attention to the tournament and women’s golf, in general, is always a good thing.”

Heres some other things you should know about Friday’s second round.

Carlota Ciganda refuses slow-play penalty, gets DQ’d from LPGA’s Evian major

The DQ was for signing an incorrect scorecard.

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Carlota Ciganda, a two-time winner on the LPGA and a five-time member of the European Solheim Cup team, was disqualified after the first round of the 2023 Amundi Evian Championship, the fourth LPGA major of the season.

The official reason was for signing an incorrect scorecard, but the situation arose out of a slow-play penalty assessed on Ciganda’s final hole of the round. The Spaniard refused to acknowledge a two-shot penalty, signed her card without adding the two shots, then was DQ’d.

Ciganda was 3 over after her round, not counting the penalty strokes. The penalty would have pushed her score to 5-over 76, and she would have trailed first-round leader Paula Reto by 12 shots.

Ciganda was playing with fellow Arizona State alum Anna Nordqvist as well as Celine Herbin. Officially Group 14, the threesome started on the 10th hole Thursday at Evian Resort Golf Club in Evain-Les-Bains, France.

When they got to the seventh hole, their 16th hole of the day, they were notified by rules officials that they were out of position.

After failing to make up time, the group was put on the clock on the eighth hole, their 17th of the round. On the ninth hole, Ciganda took too long to play and was assessed a two-stroke penalty per the LPGA’s pace of play policy.

As was her right, she appealed to the advance and lead rules officials but was denied, meaning the two-stroke penalty would stick. She opted to sign her scorecard without accounting for those two strokes. Ciganda was told if she left the official recording area having turned in a signed incorrect scorecard, she would be disqualified. The LPGA said she left of her own accord, leading to the DQ.

An LPGA spokesperson told Golfweek: “Rule 3.3b(3) states that if a returned score is lower than the actual score, the player is disqualified from the competition. The exception to this Rule does not apply because Ciganda was aware of the penalty strokes received and upheld before signing her scorecard and leaving the recording area.”

Ciganda tied for 12th in her most recent event, the Dana Open, following a tie for 20th at the U.S. Women’s Open and a tie for third at the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship. She ranks 14th on this year’s money list with $876,447, and she is No. 31 in the Rolex Women’s World Rankings. She won both her LPGA titles in 2016.

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Busy leaderboard highlights what we learned Thursday at 2023 Amundi Evian Championship

A handful of big names stumbled out the gate in France on Thursday.

The first round of the fourth women’s major championship of the year didn’t disappoint Thursday as some of the world’s best got off to hot starts at the 2023 Amundi Evian Championship.

A total of 49 players made their way around the Evian Resort’s Championship course under par in the opening round in Evian-les-Bains, France, and it’s Paula Reto leading the way at 7 under. Four players are tied for second at 5 under, with another nine all locked at T-6 at 4 under.

From the players who stepped up to the big names who stumbled, here’s what we learned from the first round of the 2023 Amundi Evian Championship.

After losing luggage, Alison Lee admits being near top of Amundi Evian leaderboard is ‘nerve-wracking’

While Lee made the trip overseas without issue, her luggage did not.

You might assume that after an opening-round 66 at the 2023 Amundi Evian Championship, American Alison Lee would have seen a drop in her blood pressure and far fewer butterflies.

Nothing could be further from the truth.

After briefly sitting atop the leaderboard at the women’s fourth major tournament of the year, the 28-year-old UCLA product — who won the inaugural ANNIKA Award in 2014, given to the nation’s top collegiate female golfer — said early tournament success doesn’t typically settle her nerves.

“You would think if I have a good round, whether it’s the first day, second day, all three days, going into the final round, it puts me in a better state of mind,” Lee said. “But honestly, sometimes it doesn’t, and especially a course like this, when it’s a little difficult off the tee it just takes a lot of positive self-talk. I’m trying the best I can to stay confident and in the moment. A lot of the time if you see your name at the top of the leaderboard it is a little bit more nerve-wracking and a little bit more anxiety and adrenaline running through the veins.

“So just trying my best to stay calm and not worry about that too much. Like I said, I’ve been putting great. Just trying to focus on making birdies and not making too many mistakes.”

Lee didn’t make many mistakes on Thursday in overcast, but scorable conditions in Evian-les-Bains, France, especially on a front nine that saw her post five birdies en route to a 31. She added birdies on Nos. 15 and 18 to take the clubhouse lead, before Paula Reto later followed with a 64.

And although she admitted the course is “visually intimidating” to her, Lee put herself in good position through much of the day, which has been a common theme for her this season. The difference on Thursday was that her putter, which has often failed her during her ninth LPGA season, came through when she needed it to.

Lee made a change to her team prior to the U.S. Open at Pebble Beach, adding a putting coach. The move didn’t pay dividends that week as Lee withdrew from the event after an opening-round 77, citing back problems.

But she’s rebounded with a solid T-15 showing at the Dow Great Lakes Bay Invitational and had the flat stick producing on Thursday.

“It’s honestly been a lot of mental. I really believe deep down I’ve always been a really good putter, and just for some reason this year I just haven’t felt comfortable over the ball,” Lee said. “I actually was speaking to my swing coach and he was so frustrated with me because he was looking at my stats and I want to say thanks to the KPMG Insights, I was ranked like 15th for strokes gained from approach to tee; my putting was pretty bad, so that’s obviously what my game was lacking.

“We’ve been working a lot on not so much my stroke, more so like mental, speed, and more feel, stuff like that. I think it’s really helped.”

Not everything about the trip to France has gone smoothly, however. While Lee made the trip overseas without issue, her luggage did not. She said via Twitter that her suitcase had been stuck for 40 hours in Detroit and she planned on focusing her attention on a travel partner before getting some rest.

“I’m going to go track my suitcase and make sure everything is there. Maybe take a little nap. I slept through the night last night so I might not have to do that,” Lee said. “But I’m going to send Delta a pretty nasty email.”

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Photos: 2023 Amundi Evian Championship at Evian Resort Golf Club

Here are some of the best photos from the 2023 Amundi Evian Championship.

The fourth women’s major of the year is here as a field of the best players in the world has descended upon Evian Resort Golf Club for the 2023 Amundi Evian Championship in Evian-les-Bains, France.

Brooke Henderson, who’s finished inside the top 15 in three of her last four starts including the last two majors, is the defending champion. The Canadian star defeated Sophia Schubert by one shot last season.

World No. 2 Nelly Korda hasn’t had her game on the LPGA of late. She missed the cut at the Cognizant Founders Cups and KPMG Women’s PGA Championship before tying for 64th at the U.S. Women’s Open. However, she won a Ladies European Tour event in London on July 16. We’ll see if that serves as a catalyst for the rest of her season.

Paula Reto fired a 64 in the opening round on Thursday to jump to the top of the leaderboard. Wichanee Meechai, Celine Boutier and American Alison Lee all finished the day two shots back.

Here are some of the best photos from the 2023 Amundi Evian Championship.

2023 Amundi Evian Championship odds, picks to win

Korda is coming off a LET win and tied for eighth at last year’s Evian.

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The fourth of five women’s major championships is here as the best players in the world have made their way to Evian-les-Bains, France, for the 2023 Amundi Evian Championship at Evian Resort Golf Club.

Last year’s champion Brooke Henderson comes into the week in great form, totaling three top-15 finishes in her last four starts, including the U.S. Women’s Open and KPMG Women’s PGA Championship.

Hyo Joo Kim, the 8th-ranked player in the world, is the betting favorite at +1200 (12/1). She’s yet to win in 2023, however, she’s finished inside the top 20 in nine of her 10 LPGA starts this year. Kim tied for third at the Evian last season.

PHOTOS: Best shots from the 2023 Amundi Evian Championship

Golf course

Evian Resort Golf Club | Par 71 | 6,523 yards

Brooke M. Henderson of Canada plays her second shot at the eighteenth hole during day four of The Amundi Evian Championship at Evian Resort Golf Club on July 24, 2022 in Evian-les-Bains, France. (Photo by Stuart Franklin/Getty Images)

Betting preview

Sophia Schubert, the Cinderella of the Amundi Evian, remains a reserve for Scottish Open and might have to Monday-qualify for British Women’s Open

“Now I’m just fingers crossed hoping I won’t have to do the British Monday,” said Schubert.

Sophia Schubert wrapped up the week of her life by taking a dip in Lake Geneva with her caddie followed by a celebration meal of pizza.

Schubert didn’t win the Amundi Evian Championship, coming up one shot short of Brooke Henderson. But it was still a life-changing week for the former U.S. Women’s Amateur champion, who gained scores of fans and vaulted 253 spots in the Rolex Rankings to No. 53. Her second-place check of $586,262 dwarfed her year-to-date earnings of $82,796.

“It’s just like this big weight has been lifted off of me,” Schubert told Golfweek on Monday afternoon, “and I could just play free.”

Schubert’s phone blew up Sunday night with congratulatory texts and “see you at the Scottish” notes from fellow players. Only Schubert didn’t get into this week’s Trust Scottish Open field. She’s not yet in the AIG Women’s British Open at Muirfield the next week either.

Instead, Schubert flew back the U.S. to do a sponsor outing at the PGA Tour’s Rocket Mortgage event. She then plans to fly back to Scotland to compete in the Monday qualifier at North Berwick, where a minimum of three spots will be available for the final major of the year.

Schubert said AIG organizers told her agent that there might be a spot available. She hoped to find out by end of day Monday.

“Now I’m just fingers crossed hoping I won’t have to do the British Monday,” said Schubert, who has yet to play in a Women’s British. Last week’s Evian was her second major as a professional.

The two holding spots for top-10 finishes are for one Standard Eligibility Tournament into the next Standard Eligibility Tournament. Because the Evian is a major and not standard, Schubert’s second-place showing does not get her into anything except for Evian in 2023.

And because the Scottish Open is co-sanctioned with the LET, it’s not considered a Standard event. The top 65 players on the CME points list as of July 13 qualified. Schubert jumped up to No. 38 on the list after the Evian, but it was past the deadline.

Schubert’s rise up the CME points list should, however, get her into limited-field events in the fall as well as the CME Group Tour Championship.

Henderson was set to make her debut in the Scottish Open but has since withdrawn. No reason was given.

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Brooke Henderson holds off a Cinderella rookie to collect second major title at Amundi Evian Championship

Henderson overcame an early-round four-putt to drain the one that mattered most.

Brooke Henderson overcame an early-round four-putt to drain the one that mattered most – a 9-footer on the 72nd hole to win the Amundi Evian Championship, her second major championship title and first in six years.

Henderson, 24, stayed patient throughout a difficult day, reminding herself of the saying that majors are won on the back nine. Even the closing birdie proved somewhat stressful after a pulled tee shot forced her to lay up on the closing par 5, which plays as the easiest hole on the course.

The winningest Canadian player in history, Henderson is a two-time winner this year and now boasts 12 career LPGA titles. She started the week with record-setting back-to-back 64s and held on to finish at 17-under with a final round of even-par 71, good for a $1 million payday.

The hectic Sunday saw six players tied for the lead on the back nine. Rookie Sophia Schubert, playing in only her second major as a professional, pulled away with a one-shot lead deep into the round but was caught by Henderson, who birdied three of the last five.

The Cinderella — 26-year-old Schubert — started the week with a double-bogey on the first hole Thursday. Her second-round 65 was her lowest round on the LPGA and her third-round 66 was the second lowest of her career. She came into the week ranked 283rd in the world with $82,796 in earnings.

The 2017 U.S. Women’s Amateur champion cruised around Evian like it was a Tuesday practice round. Schubert said she avoided leaderboards until the 18th, where she narrowly missed a 9-foot birdie putt that would’ve forced a playoff.

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