From Thursday 22 to Sunday 25 July 2021, The Amundi Evian Championship, one of the five Grand Slam tournaments in women’s golf, returns to the fairways at the Evian Resort Golf Club after having been postponed in 2020 due to Covid. The field will bring together the world’s leading players and the organizing committee has just announced the six invitations awarded to up and coming young champions. An incredible opportunity for these young players to compete at a tournament for which the eligibility criteria are increasingly stringent.
Less than two weeks from the opening of the Major, the final field of 126 players in The Amundi Evian Championship 2021, representing 26 nations, is almost final. With its prize money increased to $4,500,000, the tournament is the first in a series of key events in the women’s global golf season, which in particular includes the Tokyo Olympic Games, the AIG Women’s Open and the Solheim Cup. All of the leading international players will be in Evian, led by the world’s top 3, the American Nelly Korda, the defending champion from South Korea Jin Young Ko, and her compatriot and Olympic champion Inbee Park.
“This year is symbolically the start of a new life cycle for the tournament! With Amundi, Rolex and evian®, the Sponsors Club is strengthened, enabling us to continue to carry out our mission as a major championship: always provide the players with more means to practice their sport in the best possible conditions, contribute to developing young talent and contribute to giving exposure to women’s golf worldwide,” explains Franck Riboud, Chairman of The Amundi Evian Championship. “It is with this ambition in mind that the prize money has been increased this year, that The Lake Course has been added to improve facilities at the Evian Resort Golf Club Academy and why we are changing our eligibility criteria to make them more competitive and contribute to bringing young talent around the world to the fore, through the awarding of wildcards for example. ”
In line with the policy implemented by the tournament board to promote the emergence of the champions of tomorrow, the invitations have been awarded to six players (three amateurs and three pros) with an average age of 20 and who have performed remarkably. Players, who for the most part, are returning to Evian where they have already competed in competitions organized in the ecosystem dedicated to the world’s best young players as part of The Amundi Evian Championship galaxy.
Pauline Roussin-Bouchard (Amateur, aged 21, Fra)
The student from the University of South Carolina, nicknamed “The French Phenom”, has had a run of successes and records: no less than 5 wins during the 2020-2021 college season and an impressive performance at the Augusta National Women’s Amateur in early April 2021. The current n°7 on the World Amateur Golf Ranking is the ideal ambassador for the tournament’s Galaxy and the success of its youth policy, as she has competed in all of the events (Haribo Kids Cup, The Evian Juniors Cup, The Evian Under 18…).
Tsubasa Kajitani (Amateur, aged 17, Jap)
Her great win in play-off at the Augusta National Women’s Amateur 2021 paved the way to The Amundi Evian Championship for her. Another fine performance by the young Japanese amateur, aged 17, n°10 on the World Amateur Golf Ranking.
Brooke Matthews (Amateur, aged 22, USA)
As one of the best components in the Arkansas University team, Brooke Matthews shone at the latest Arnold Palmer Cup, which gave her the opportunity to receive an invitation to the Major.
Natalie Srinivasan (aged 23, USA)
This former student at Furman University in South Carolina qualified for the Major for being the winner of the Annika Award presented by Stifel 2020. She turned pro in June 2020 and currently plays on the Symetra Tour.
Maria Fassi (aged 23, Mex)
The rising Mexican star with a brilliant amateur career turned pro in 2019 and now plays on the LPGA Tour. She earned her qualification thanks to winning the Annika Award presented by Stifel two years running in 2018 and 2019.
Lucie Malchirand (aged 18, Fra)
After playing at the top amateur level, victorious in two Evian Junior Cups in 2016 and 2017 and runner-up in The Evian Under 18 in 2019, Lucie Malchirand created a sensation by winning, while still an amateur, the Italian Open on the LET. The young French player, a member of Team Amumdi, who turned pro just after her victory, has been competing on the Ladies European Tour since the end of May.
There can be no doubt, these six players will be giving it their all to make their mark as they compete against the world’s leading players in the field for The Amundi Evian Championship 2021.
“We cannot wait to see everyone from the world of women’s golf again at the Evian Resort after this long period of Covid. After a difficult year for everyone, it is of course a joy for the team to bring the unique experience of The Amundi Evian Championship to life again, both for the fans and for our partners, the media and of course the players.” Jacques Bungert, Vice-Chairman of The Amundi Evian Championship is delighted to say. “Particularly for the players, as the sporting stakes of the series of events that we commence at the end of July which runs through to the Solheim Cup, is significant. More than ever before, as far as we are concerned, we are continuing to implement our ambition to serve women’s sport and women’s global golf in particular. It’s very exciting to be part of and contribute to this momentum, visible through the arrival on the stage of these talented young players who are taking the helm of the world rankings, and with no less than 26 nationalities present! Apart from that, we will of course be remaining very cautious and vigilant to ensure that health and safety measures are observed, but honestly, we can’t wait to open the show! ”
France is well represented with the French number 1 Céline Boutier on top form after her 7th place finish at the last Major, and following in her footsteps are Perrine Delacour, who will represent France at the Olympic Games the following week, along with Céline Herbin, Lucie Malchirand and Pauline Roussin-Bouchard. On the other side of the lake, support will be for Morgane Métraux, who won the US Qualifiers, and Albane Valenzuela, a regular at the Evian Resort Golf Club, where she has competed in the Arnold Palmer Cup, The Evian Juniors Cup and of course The Amundi Evian Championship.