Tag: Amundi Evian Championship

While a number of top players skipped the Evian, No. 1 Nelly Korda arrived in France ready to rock with new gaming laptop

Over the next seven weeks, two majors, the Olympics and a Solheim Cup will be contested, and Korda will headline them all.

Nelly Korda bought a gaming laptop to keep her mind busy during a heavy stretch on the LPGA. Right now she’s into Call of Duty: Modern Warfare. She might download a few of the card games she liked as a kid, too.

“Complete nerd coming out of me right now,” she said, with a laugh.

Navigating No. 1 is new to the 22-year-old, who met with the media in France ahead of the Amundi Evian Championship. Over the course of the next seven weeks, two majors, the Olympic Games and a Solheim Cup will be contested and Korda, a three-time winner on the LPGA this season, will headline them all.

Korda said she lets her dad and her agent handle the requests that have poured in since she became No. 1 last month and qualified for the Tokyo Olympics along with big sister Jessica.

“I’m like, pinch me,” she said, “is this even real?”

The Evian returns for the first time since 2019, when Ji Young Ko hoisted the trophy and ascended to No. 1. Ko last teed it up on the LPGA on July 1 when she won the Volunteers of America Classic. She then flew back to South Korea with her parents and caught up with her swing coach and her dog, whose name translates to “awesome.”

Evian practically paints the town with the winner’s face each year, and Ko was struck by how young she looked in the pictures.

“Feels like face was like five years ago,” she said. “The picture really looks young. What happened after two years with my face? I can see my pictures everywhere, so my feeling is like this week is my hometown.”

While the top two players in the world are eager to tee it up this week, six of the top-20 players chose not to make the trip, including No. 6 Danielle Kang, No. 8 Yuka Saso, No. 9 Nasa Hataoka and No. 11 Lexi Thompson.

“Each to their own when it comes to a schedule,” said Nelly. “I know a couple of top girls are missing this week just because it was a lot of travel, a lot of big events coming up. At the end of the day I think they’re just thinking about how their bodies are going to be and not tiring themselves out. But I would never miss a major.”

Evian tournament director Jacques Bungert didn’t seem overly concerned about the number of top names who chose to skip the season’s fourth major.

“We have a fantastic field honestly,” said Bungert, “and we feel lucky to have that type of a field due to the conditions, the restrictions for traveling, the situation of the Delta at the moment in the UK, for instance, and the situation with the Olympic Games obviously.”

Korda, whose best finish at the Evian is a T-25 in 2019, noted that the rough is thick and the course is playing softer due to the amount of rain that fell last week.

When asked what part of the course she finds toughest, Korda said mentally handling the unpredictable bounces.

“You know, you can hit good shots and you get a really bad bounce and you’re just in an impossible position,” said Korda. “You can hit a bad shot and it trickles up there and you sink it for birdie. So it’s more of just like a mental aspect, and also just knowing where to miss.”

Korda has now been ranked No. 1 for four weeks, something she takes great pride in and describes as a “cool feeling.” The main goal for the rest of the year, she said, is to remain healthy. Both Korda sisters have dealt with an array of health issues during the course of their careers.

As for the gaming laptop, it offers a great escape, a way to keep from being mentally drained during big weeks, which are coming fast and furious these days.

“Jess kind of said it last week in an interview we did, she was like, ‘Yeah, everyone is now coming after her,’ ” said Nelly. “So in a sense, I’m like, that’s right. But it’s a new week, and every week I go into a tournament with a new mindset. It doesn’t matter the ranking.”

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As the Amundi Evian Championship ramps up, here are the 10 best LPGA players without a major title

Now that Nelly Korda is forever off the best-without-a-major list, who’s next to break through? Well, in the eyes of many, it stays in the family. Jessica Korda, a six-time winner on the LPGA, heads to this week’s Amundi Evian Championship still in …

Now that Nelly Korda is forever off the best-without-a-major list, who’s next to break through? Well, in the eyes of many, it stays in the family. Jessica Korda, a six-time winner on the LPGA, heads to this week’s Amundi Evian Championship still in search of her first major title.

The last eight majors were won by players winning their first major title: Nelly Korda, Yuka Saso, Patty Tavatanakit, A Lim Kim, Sei Young Kim, Mirim Lee, Sophia Popov and Hinako Shibuno.

Here’s a list of 10 players who might continue that trend based on recent form and close calls at big events.

Mel Reid withdraws from Evian, citing new travel restrictions to the U.K. that may dash Olympic dream

A new quarantine rule for those entering the U.K. from France went into effect on Monday.

England’s Mel Reid has withdrawn from the Amundi Evian Championship, citing new travel restrictions that could prevent her from competing in the Tokyo Olympics. She has been replaced in the field by Alena Sharp.

On Friday, the U.K. announced that those entering the U.K. from France will have quarantine for 10 days, even if fully vaccinated against COVID-19, amid concerns of the Beta variant. The new rule went into effect on Monday.

“Incredibly disappointed to withdraw from The Evian Championship this year due to the recently implemented travel rules that prevent re-entry into the U.K. from Franee in time for the team’s Olympic departure,” Reid wrote on Instagram. “I’ve worked relentlessly with my team and the LPGA to find a way to compete in both but unfortunately at this point there are no assurances on firm solutions and the risk of missing the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to compete as an Olympian is simply too high.

“I can’t wait to return to Evian in many years to come and want to thank the tournament team for their understanding.”

Reid tied for 12th at last week’s Dow Great Lakes Bay Invitational with partner Carlota Ciganda.

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Major void: Danielle Kang, Lexi Thompson, Nasa Hataoka among marquee names skipping Evian

Several big names won’t be in France for the year’s fourth major.

The field list for the Armundi Evian Championship is out, and several marquee names won’t be in France for the year’s fourth major. The commitment deadline for the event was Tuesday.

Danielle Kang and Lexi Thompson, two of the four American players headed to Tokyo for the Summer Olympics, are skipping the Evian as is Japan’s Nasa Hataoka. Stacy Lewis, who skipped the Evian in 2017 in protest for the time of year the event was held (September), is also not competing.

Kang is defending her title at this week’s Marathon Classic while Thompson is in London this week competing in the LET’s Aramco Team Series. Thompson will team up with Hataoka next week in the Dow Great Lakes Bay Invitational while Kang will be paired with Lydia Ko.

World No. 1 Nelly Korda and her sister Jessica (No. 13) are both in the Evian field as is 2019 champion Jin Young Ko, who won last week at the Volunteers of America Classic in Texas.

Last year’s Evian was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Earlier this year, Amundi was announced as title sponsor of the event.

Two major championships and the Olympic Games are being staged within the span of a month on the LPGA. There’s a two-week break after the AIG Women’s British Open at Carnoustie before the Solheim Cup is staged Sept. 4-6 at the Inverness Club in Toledo, Ohio.

Both Hannah Green and Shanshan Feng let it be known several weeks ago that they’d been shutting it down until the Olympics after the KPMG Women’s PGA. Green wanted to go back to Australia to visit friends and family, knowing that she didn’t want to go the entire year without returning home. She had to hotel quarantine in Sydney for two weeks before heading to Perth.

Feng, who also had to quarantine, wanted to prepare for the Olympics at home in China and travel with the national team to Tokyo.

Five top-20 players are skipping Evian.

There are four spots left open, including two for winners of this week’s Marathon Classic and the Dow Great Lakes Bay Invitational.

2021 Amundi Evian field list:

Marina Alex

Brittany Altomare

Pajaree Anannarukarn

Pia Babnik

Ana Belac

Carly Booth

Amy Boulden

Celine Boutier

Ashleigh Buhai

Matilda Castren

Jennifer Chang

Chella Choi

In Gee Chun

Carlota Ciganda

Cydney Clanton

Jenny Coleman

Olivia Cowan

Paula Creamer

Perrine Delacour

Lindy Duncan

Austin Ernst

Ally Ewing

Dana Finkelstein

Ayaka Furue

Jaye Marie Green

Natalie Gulbis

Georgia Hall

Mina Harigae

Leonie Harm

Brooke M. Henderson

Esther Henseleit

Celine Herbin

Alice Hewson

Daniela Holmqvist

Wei-Ling Hsu

Charley Hull

Mi Jung Hur

Eun Hee Ji

Ariya Jutanugarn

Moriya Jutanugarn

Tsubasa Kajitani (a)

Haeji Kang

Sarah Kemp

Megan Khang

Sei Young Kim

Hyo Joo Kim

A Lim Kim

In Kyung Kim

Christina Kim

Katherine Kirk

Cheyenne Knight

Jin Young Ko

Lydia Ko

Nanna Koerstz Madsen

Nelly Korda

Jessica Korda

Aline Krauter (a)

Jennifer Kupcho

Stephanie Kyriacou

Brittany Lang

Nicole Broch Larsen

Bronte Law

Minjee Lee

Mirim Lee

Min Lee

Alison Lee

Mi Hyang Lee

Jeongeun Lee6

Brittany Lincicome

Pernilla Lindberg

Yu Liu

Gaby Lopez

Leona Maguire

Caroline Masson

Wichanee Meechai

Morgane Metraux

Giulia Molinaro

Azahara Munoz

Yealimi Noh

Anna Nordqvist

Sanna Nuutinen

Ryann O’Toole

Su Oh

Amy Olson

Lee-Anne Pace

Inbee Park

Sung Hyun Park

Hee Young Park

Emily Kristine Pedersen

Pornanong Phatlum

Gerina Piller

Sophia Popov

Mel Reid

Pauline Roussin-Bouchard (a)

So Yeon Ryu

Madelene Sagstrom

Lizette Salas

Yuka Saso

Sarah Schmelzel

Jodi Ewart Shadoff

Jenny Shin

Natalie Srinivasan

Angela Stanford

Marissa Steen

Lauren Stephenson

Jasmine Suwannapura

Elizabeth Szokol

Emma Talley

Patty Tavatanakit

Atthaya Thitikul

Ayako Uehara

Albane Valenzuela

Anne van Dam

Lindsey Weaver

Christine Wolf

Jing Yan

Amy Yang

Angel Yin

Rose Zhang (a)

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Switzerland’s Morgane Metraux chose a childhood dream to play the Evian over the Olympics

Recent Symetra Tour winner Morgane Metraux chose to play the Amundi Evian Championship close to her childhood home, backing out of the Olympics.

For Morgane Metraux, the biggest goal in 2021 is crystal clear: earn her LPGA card.

The 24-year-old Swiss player currently ranks fourth on the Symetra Tour money list thanks to a maiden victory last month at the Island Resort Championship in Harris, Michigan. That triumph actually earned Metraux an exemption into the Amundi Evian Championship in France, fulfilling a lifelong dream for a player who grew up just across Lake Geneva in Lausanne, Switzerland.

It also presented a tough decision as Metraux also qualified for the Olympic Games in Tokyo, which take place Aug. 4-7 at Kasumigaseki Country Club.

“I basically had to make a choice between Evian and Olympics,” said Metraux, who didn’t think she could afford to miss that many weeks on the Symetra Tour to compete in both.

Ultimately, Metraux chose the Evian and backed out of the Olympics, leaving Albane Valenzuela as the lone player representing Switzerland. Ladies European Tour player Tonje Daffinrud of Norway replaced Metraux in the Tokyo field.

“It was honestly tough to say no,” said Metraux. “It feels like I could regret it one day, but at the same time right now it’s what I needed to do.”

Morgane Metraux (courtesy Symetra Tour/Alison Palma)

Metraux, who played with older sister Kim at Florida State, started attending the Evian – her first professional event – in elementary school with a group of girls shortly after taking up the game. She wasn’t good enough or old enough at the time to even realize who she was watching, she was simply excited to watch women compete.

There’s a hat covered in signatures back home in her room. It has faded a bit since then, but she can still make out the names of Morgan Pressel, Ai Miyazato, Natalie Gulbis and Paula Creamer.

Qualifying for Evian fulfills a lifelong dream, and Metraux plans to head back home after this week’s Symetra stop in French Lick, Indiana, to prepare.

“For me that’s a priority because it’s just an hour away from where I grew up,” she said.

Metraux came from three back with a closing 67 to win on the Symetra Tour the same day former FSU teammate Matilda Castren, who will compete in Tokyo representing Finland, won on the LPGA. Metraux won three times at Florida State; Castren won a school-record seven.

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“I kind of won first because of the time change,” said Metraux, “that was really fun to do the same week. It just gives me that much more confidence that I can do it, too.”

In 2019, Metraux suffered a shoulder injury that kept her away from the game for 10 months. The pain started in mid-February as she was prepping for the Symetra Tour season and lasted until the fall. When she came back, she’d lost distance, too. It took nearly two years, she said, to be completely gone.

In 2020, Metraux competed some on the Ladies European Tour, where sister Kim currently plays.

There are nine events left on the Symetra Tour this season. Metraux will miss two of them to compete in the Evian. In addition to her victory in Michigan, Metraux also finished runner-up at the Casino Del Sol Golf Classic in April. A total of 10 players will earn LPGA cards for the 2022 season.

As Metraux preps for Evian, she also has her sights set on 2024, when the Olympics return in Paris, though she knows that much can change in the span of three years.

“I’m really hoping to make it next time,” she said.

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LPGA major renamed Amundi Evian Championship; purse increased to $4.5 million

The LPGA renamed one of its majors, the Amundi Evian Championship, and increased the purse to $4.5 million.

The Evian Championship will return in 2021 with a new look as Amundi, a European leader in asset management, comes on board as title sponsor. The LPGA’s newest major will be renamed The Amundi Evian Championship and the purse will be increased to $4.5 million, a rise of $400,000, the tour released in a statement.

“Our partnership with Amundi strengthens our global ambitions,” said Franck Riboud, chairman of the Evian Championship. “We launched the Evian Masters in 1994 and in 2013 the tournament was renamed The Evian Championship upon becoming one of the major championships in women’s golf. Today, the fact that Amundi joins us, in such unusual times, once again reaffirms the major’s appeal.”

Last year’s Evian was canceled due to COVID-19. The 2021 edition will be held July 22-25 at the Evian Resort Golf Club in Evian-les-Bains, France. Amundi has international investment hubs in Boston, Dublin, London, Milan, Paris and Tokyo and serves 100 million clients with 4,500 employees in nearly 40 countries.

“We are delighted to become the title sponsor for this great tournament in women’s sport that is The Evian Championship. The tournament’s global reach will benefit Amundi, in particular in Asia, an important region for our company which has made it an essential component for its growth,” said Amundi CEO Yves Perrier. “We are committed over the next five years to supporting Europe’s women golfers to enable them to emerge onto the international golf scene. Equal opportunity is indeed one of Amundi’s core values.”

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