[Photo: Philippe Millereau KMSP]
On the surface, a golf course in eastern France with spectacular views out across Lake Geneva is not an obvious setting for Australian success.
Yet dating back to Rachel Hetherington’s victory 25 years ago through to some Aussie dominance in more recent years, Evian Resort Golf Club has been very kind to our Aussie women.
No one will ever forget the manner in which Grace Kim wrote her name into Evian folklore 12 months ago, making eagle at the 72nd hole to finish level with Thai superstar Jeeno Thitikul and then repeating it at the second playoff hole to claim victory.
What may be overlooked is that another Aussie, Minjee Lee, finished just one shot shy of also joining the playoff while Gabriela Ruffels was tied ninth having led into the final round.
A year earlier, Stephanie Kyriacou was denied a playoff of her own when Ayaka Furue made eagle at the final hole while the first of Lee’s three major championships came at Evian in 2021, coming from seven shots back in the final round to defeat overnight leader Jeongeun Lee6 at the first playoff hole.
Hetherington, Wendy Doolan (2004) and Karrie Webb (2006) all won at Evian prior to it earning major status in 2013, Katherine Kirk another to come close with a third-place finish in 2017.
The golf course itself may be more familiar to Australians than first appears.
The tight, tree-lined fairways are reminiscent of those on Sydney’s north shore, the demand on precision over power undoubtedly playing to the strengths of players such as Kim, Lee and Kyriacou.
Another who is no stranger to piloting her golf ball through heavily wooded layouts is Mollymook product, Kelsey Bennett, the Hilltop Course in her home town boasting picturesque par 3s and fairway corridors that pinch in from both sides.
Making her major championship debut, Bennett has already displayed a level of comfort at Evian, having finished tied 18th in the Jabra Ladies Open de France in May.
All four rounds of the Amundi Evian Championship will be broadcast live on Fox Sports and Kayo Sports, Round 1 coverage beginning at 8pm Thursday night AEST.
The Amundi Evian Championship
Evian Resort Golf Club, Evian-les-bains, France
Recent champion: Grace Kim
Past Aussie winners: Rachel Hetherington (2001), Wendy Doolan (2004), Karrie Webb (2006), Minjee Lee (2021), Grace Kim (2025)
Prizemoney: $US9.1m
TV times: Live 8pm-2am Thursday, Friday on Fox Sports 503; Live 6pm-12am Saturday on Fox Sports 505; Live 6pm-12:30am Sunday on Fox Sports 503 and Kayo Sports.
Australasian player profiles
Kelsey Bennett
World ranking: 112
Age: 26
Major wins: 0
LPGA Tour wins: 0
Previous Evian Championship starts: 0
Best finish at Evian Championship: N/A
The lowdown: A long-awaited major championship debut for one of the form players in Australian golf in 2026. In her second season on the Ladies European Tour, Bennett earned a maiden win at the Australian Women’s Classic at Magenta Shores and has added two runner-up finishes in Europe in her past four starts. At a career high of 112 in the Rolex Women’s World Golf Ranking, Bennett also finished tied 18th at the Jabra Ladies Open de France that was played at the Evian Resort in May.
Robyn Choi
World ranking: 110
Age: 28
Major wins: 0
LPGA Tour wins: 0
Previous Evian Championship starts: 1
Best finish at Evian Championship: MC (2025)
The lowdown: Knocking on the door of the top 100 of the world golf ranking for the first time in her career. Has been a consistent performer in 2026 with 11 cuts made from 14 starts on the LPGA Tour, her best finish a tie for eighth at the Kroger Queen City Championship. Finished tied 48th at the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship, her first made cut in a major since the 2024 Chevron Championship.
Karis Davidson
World ranking: 54
Age: 28
Major wins: 0
LPGA Tour wins: 0
Previous Evian Championship starts: 2
Best finish at Evian Championship: T61 (2023)
The lowdown: In without doubt the most confident frame of mind at any time of her career. Tees it up at Evian for a third time on the back of career-best finishes in consecutive majors, tied for 22nd at the US Women’s Open and then tied 12th at the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship. Coming on the back of a tie for 12th at the Meijer LPGA Classic, Davidson’s result at KPMG saw her climb to a career high of 53rd in the world ranking.
Hannah Green
World ranking: 9
Age: 29
Major wins: 1
LPGA Tour wins: 8
Previous Evian Championship starts: 6
Best finish at Evian Championship: T30 (2019)
The lowdown: After a blistering four-win start to the season Green’s form has cooled somewhat. A tie for seventh at the Chevron Championship was her first top 10 in a major in almost four years but Green failed to advance to the weekend in her return to Hazeltine for the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship, site of her major triumph in 2019. Record at Evian is not stellar, with a tie for 30th in 2019 her best result to date.
Grace Kim
World ranking: 31
Age: 25
Major wins: 1
LPGA Tour wins: 2
Previous Evian Championship starts: 3
Best finish at Evian Championship: Won (2025)
The lowdown: Bringing a strong formline into her return to the venue where she shocked the golf world 12 months ago. Kim’s victory at Evian where she eagled the 72nd hole, chipped in for birdie at the first playoff hole and then eagled the second extra hole will forever live as one of the most remarkable finishes in major championship history. In addition to those good memories, Kim can call upon her tie for 22nd at the US Women’s Open and tie for 24th at the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship in recent weeks as confidence builders.
Lydia Ko (NZ)
World ranking: 12
Age: 29
Major wins: 3
LPGA Tour wins: 23
Previous Evian Championship starts: 12
Best finish at Evian Championship: Won (2015)
The lowdown: The former world No.1 bounced back after two missed cuts in majors to start 2026 with a tie for 15th at the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship. Made her first appearance at Evian back in 2013 at the age of just 16 where she finished runner-up, going one better two years later with the first of three majors to date, adding four further top 10s in her nine starts since.
Minjee Lee
World ranking: 11
Age: 30
Major wins: 3
LPGA Tour wins: 11
Previous Evian Championship starts: 11
Best finish at Evian Championship: Won (2021)
The lowdown: The site of her first event as a professional has proven to be kind. In addition to her breakthrough major win in 2021, Lee has a total of six top-20 finishes at Evian since 2014 and fell just one stroke short of the playoff at last year’s championship. Without a top-20 finish since March, Lee missed the cut in the defence of her KPMG Women’s PGA title last start in Texas.
Cassie Porter
World ranking: 74
Age: 23
Major wins: 0
LPGA Tour wins: 0
Previous Evian Championship starts: 1
Best finish at Evian Championship: MC (2025)
The lowdown: Although she missed the cut at the KPMG Women’s PGA, Porter’s recent form has been strong with top-10 finishes at both the ShopRite LPGA Classic and Meijer LPGA Classic. Tied for 34th at the Chevron Championship earlier this year, Porter makes just her second appearance at Evian having missed the cut 12 months ago.
Gabriela Ruffels
World ranking: 172
Age: 26
Major wins: 0
LPGA Tour wins: 0
Previous Evian Championship starts: 2
Best finish at Evian Championship: T9 (2025)
The lowdown: It may be a timely return to Evian for Ruffels who has missed six cuts and not record a top-25 finish thus far in 2026. It was 12 months ago that Ruffels had a share of the lead going into the final round of the Evian Championship, her tie for ninth her best result in a major to date.
