Évian Quenches the Thirst for Women’s Golf
While oil and water may repel, water and golf prove to mix perfectly. The Évian Championship, the biggest women’s tournament in the world, will take place September 11-14, 2014 in Évianles-Bains, France, an elite holiday resort town on the shores of Lake Geneva and home to the famed Évian Mineral Water. Formerly called Évian Masters, the reinvented Évian Championship is the now the fifth and final Major, which closes the season after the Kraft Nabisco Championship, the US Women’s Open, the Women’s British Open and the LPGA Championship. The international competition, which is the only Continental European Major, will narrow a field of 120 female players down to a single champion.
The 2013 Évian Championship winner was Norwegian golfer Suzann Pettersen, who shot a 68 to finish 10 under, claiming the second Major title of her career.
This world-class tournament offers one of the most important prize money in the world for female golfers. For the past years the purse has been $3.25 million with $487,000 of that going to the winner, which makes it the second-richest event in women’s golf, after the U.S. Women’s Open. The boost to Évian’s prize money was largely due to its major sponsorship including Société Générale, Rolex, Lacoste, Renault, and of course, Évian Mineral Water.
The Évian Championship is strategically positioned at the end of the season and, for the first time in the history of world golf, will crown with the LPGA and Rolex, via the Rolex Annika Major Award, in honor of Annika the most consistent, highest performing player across all the Major tournaments.
The French are very proud of the majesty and grandeur that Évian Golf Resort offers to all players, with good reason. The course itself is described as magical. Situated on the southern shore of Lake Geneva on 60 acres overlooking the lake, with backdrop views of the French Alps, the Évian Golf Club offers these world-class players 18 holes in a stunning setting. The also resort features two well-appointed five-star luxury hotels, The Hôtel Royal and The Hôtel Ermitage for a spectacular European holiday experience.
Another great source of pride for sponsors and administrators is The Evian Championship Juniors Cup. The event will enter its eight-year in 2014 and is played in September 16-17, 2014, after the women’s competition. The tournament is open to both girls and boys under the age of 14 years. The Evian Championship Juniors Cup presents a unique experience of high-level golf by welcoming the best international players. Twenty teams of four players, comprising two girls and two boys, each representing their nation, are expected to take to the Major course at the Evian Resort Golf Club. The United States, winners in 2013, will defend their title. India, Mexico, China, and Japan have equally confirmed their participation.
While water may be considered the gift of life, Evian is giving the gift of golf by providing much deserved recognition and reward to hard working female athletes and young international stars on the rise.
LEARN MORE ABOUT EVIAN CHAMPIONSHIP AT: EVIANCHAMPIONSHIP.COM
BY ROBIN LORÉ | https://19thholemag.com
