Amundi Evian Championship 2023: What It Meant For Women's Golf

The Amundi Evian Championship is a tremendous reference point in the women’s game. Each year, the world’s finest players take on the Champions Course to showcase their exceptional skills. This year's edition was held from 27–30 July.

The 2023 tournament concluded with Celine Boutier scripting history as the first Frenchwoman to ever win Evian Championship. Boutier lifted the winning trophy in her home country after she beat Canadian Brooke Henderson who finished second place.

Amundi Evian Championship Women's Golf

First played in 1994, the 2023 Amundi Evian Championship was held at the Evian Resort Golf Club in Évian-les-Bains, France. Frenchwoman Boutier won the major 6 strokes clear of Brooke Henderson. She earned $1 million with her victory in the total $6.5 million prize bracket for the Championship. Boutier also became the fifth golfer to win the first major title at Evian. With this, she is part of the club including names like Hyo Joo Kim (2014), Lydia Ko (2015), Angela Stanford (2018) and Minjee Lee (2021).

Boutier expressed her happiness after her win via BBC:

"It's honestly been my biggest dream since I started watching golf. This tournament has always been very special to me, just even watching as as teenager. Just to be able to hold this trophy is pretty unbelievable."

India's top golfer Aditi Ashok also delivered her best round with a three-under 68. Her performance helped her tie for 42nd at the event. 

The Amundi Evian Championship has been the stage of many triumphs including tales of two-time champion Annika Sörenstam (2000, 2002). Widely regarded as one of the best golfers in the history of the women’s game, she set a benchmark of excellence to which the modern generation can aspire. Reflecting on her experiences there, Annika Sörenstam said: “It was one of my favourite tournaments on the LPGA Tour. The championship showcases the incredibly beautiful landscapes of Evian-les-Bains and the quality of the services surrounding the golf is first-class. The course requires great technical skill and control over your game. It is less about power and more about accuracy as the fairways are quite undulating."

Seeking to emulate the Swede and win a second crown at Évian-les-Bains will be fellow Testimonee Brooke Henderson. The Canadian returns as defending champion, having captured the second Major title of her career last year, and in the process, becoming the first LPGA player to begin any Major with successive rounds of 64.

Speaking ahead of this year’s tournament, Brooke Henderson said: “Competing at any Major championship is always difficult – both physically and mentally. At The Amundi Evian Championship, the conditions are different to any other golf course due to the differing size of slopes, making it a very challenging week. Despite this, I had a great strategy in 2022 which allowed me to go really far under par in the first two rounds which was really exciting. It was a dream come true to be able to push on and win the trophy on a Sunday afternoon. Winning my second Major championship was a special moment that I will always remember." Other Testimonies to have triumphed at this visually stunning venue include Lydia Ko (2015), Suzann Pettersen (2013) and Anna Nordqvist (2017).

Lydia Ko said: “The Amundi Evian Championship will always remain special to me as it is where I won my first Major championship. When I play at the event, I almost feel like I am playing in front of my family as the crowds are extremely supportive. It would be extremely special to join fellow Rolex Testimonee Annika Sörenstam as having won the tournament more than once. This is definitely a big motivation and I will try to achieve the feat at this year’s edition. I was proud of the way I played at the 2022 tournament but fellow Rolex Testimonee Brooke Henderson truly excelled and deserved the win." 

Quotes derived from The Amundi Evian Championship press release by Rolex, a Main Partner and Official Timekeeper at The Amundi Evian Championship since 2000.

Suggested reading: Who Is Aditi Ashok? India's Top Golfer Plays 25th Major In US