2025 Amundi Evian Championship by Wrists

July 10-13, 2025

Evian Resort Golf Club

Evian les Bains, Rhone Alpes, France

After a week off, the LPGA comes back for the 1st week of the European Swing, and the 4th major of the year. In the past, I've kind of dogged the Evian for being the worst "major", but after some of these Major courses, it's fun to come back to a familiar, scenic course in Evian Resort GC. Located on the shore of Lake Geneva with the Swiss Alps nearby, it's a fun and scorable course. Is it hard? Not particularly. Is it worthy of hosting an annual Major? Probably not. Am I excited for it? Absolutely.

EVENT HISTORY

Back in 2013, Evian ponied up the cash and lobbied hard to make this former LET event a Major. It officially became the Fifth major and has received a bit of a cold welcome, with many American players (looking at you, Lexi) deciding to not come over and play throughout the years. But time is a funny thing for golf and has certainly helped with the prestige of this event. For most of the players on the LPGA, this event has been a Major - with a major 1st place prize - since they were juniors. I'm ready to officially declare the Evian a Major with a capital M.

The course is a par 71, with 5 par 3s, 9 par 4s, and 4 par 5s. The scorecard says that the course plays at 6333 yards, but the Evian is probably the worst offender for fraudulent yardages. The setup crew will sometimes push the tees up and make it play just over 6100, which is shortened even further when you consider that the event is played at a bit of altitude. The course itself was originally designed in the early 1900s by Willie Park Jr, and is what you've expect from a lake, mountain course. The teeshots present fairways that are relatively narrow and undulating. There are elevation changes off the tee and into the reasonably big, but resort-y, bentgrass greens. There are also slopes and run offs into the thick-ish rough so short game play has been at a bit of a premium. For the first time this year, we don't have a pure bomber fest off the tee. You need to hit the fairways, rack up a ton of greens, and make putts on the bent greens. 

The winning score has varied over the years here. Last year, Ayaka Furue won at 19 under by 1 over Steph Kyriacou. But in 2023, Celine Boutier won at 14 under by 6 (!!!) over Brooke Hendersen. In 2022, Brooke won by 1 at 17 under. I think you'll probably see a winning score in that 16-19 range again this year as it has been raining this week and there isn't much wind forecasted. Word on the street is that the rough has been chopped down this week, which might decrease the need for driving accuracy, but we'll continue to monitor it.

In terms of course comps, it's easy enough to see that players who have putted well at bent or bent/poa courses have also played well here. You could look at courses like Blythfield, Pinnacle, or Seaview. I think there is something to that in terms of putting, but I think the most important skill this week is the ability to hit iron shots off uneven and slopey lies. We've seen a bit of overlap between the other two "slopey fairway" tour stops and here. This year's Match Play at Shadow Creek had Lauren Coughlin finished 3rd and Steph Kyriacou 2nd. Ayaka Furue has played Shadow great over the years, consistently making it to the group stages and twice getting to the final 4. Last year's Evian leaderboard: Furue, Steph, Coughlin.

I also think you can look to approach numbers for Tournament of Champions at Lake Nona. The fairways there are similarly slopey and we've seen players spike above their approach baseline in Pajaree Anannarukarn, Linn Grant, and A Lim Kim translate it over to success here at Evian. I think if you want to click off some long shots, just go to the approach numbers for TOC, pick the top 10, and have some fun.

PLAYER THOUGHTS

Outside of Jeeno, I'm generally out on the top of the board this week. 

Nelly +1500: 15-1 is a great number, but you're getting it for a reason. This is not a great fit for her and she hasn't mixed hard here. I tried the single bullet with Nelly at the KPMG and that was enough for me. Needs to sort out her irons badly and this is an iron play test.

Minjee +1600: After breaking her winless streak at the KPMG, we finally see Minjee back where she belongs in the 12-16 range. Good number for the 21 Evian winner. The putter was great at KPMG and don't hate going back to her here. Since 2013 and achieving major status, there haven't been any multi-time winners, and there's other spots I'd rather go.

Ronni Yin +2200: Good number, but Ronni's been sort of shaky with the scoring irons and don't love that going into a birdie fest. Hopefully I don’t eat my words.

Linn Grant +7500: Has won here before in 2023, albeit at the Jabra Ladies on the LET, and has played well at the Evian. She's also hit it nicely at the comp iron courses in Shadow Creek, making it the semis there, and was 2nd in approach at Lake Nona this year en route to finishing 3rd. This is actually a pretty rude number for a player who was just in the mix a month ago at the USWO. I think ultimately Linn makes too many bogeys to sign for 19 under and that probably will keep me away, but I am tempted.

Iwai twins/Takeda: I just need a break from the trio of the long-hitting Japanese rookies. They are all priced really fairly in the 40-70 range, and you could click on any of them as a talent play and have it work out. I tend to shy away from the youngsters at Evian as it's a course that does have some nuance and I think previous course history is a benefit. 

Brooke +5500: Former winner and runner up. She's going to find it in Asia, but not this week. Still can't put 4 rounds together.

HJ Kim +3000: course merchant. look out.

Esther Henseleit +3700: Why is Esther at 37, but Charley is 45-1? Do the books know something we don't?

Madelene Sagstrom +9000: Match Play winner at Shadow Creek, 2nd last week at the Ladies Irish Open. Rude number for an in form player with a high ceiling.

OUTRIGHT SELECTIONS

Jeeno +1200 - I said I wouldn't single bullet Jeeno in the single digits, but I think I can hold my nose and get there at 12. Jeeno loves to make 15 footers for birdie, which is just what this course asks. Has good history here with 3 top 10s. She had her first serious Major mix, playing both weekend rounds in the final group and sort of hung around. 

Lydia +3300 - Lydia has had a horrible run of course fits for her this year. Frisco, Erin, and Carlton Woods were all big brawny tests that were never going to be her jam. She finished 26th at the USWO, leading the field in putting and similarly finished 12th at KPMG. We are getting a bit of a missed cut discount with her "MC" at the Dow Championship where Lydia was doing charity work by playing with Danielle Kang. She was just trying to get her karma right before she stomps on throats this next month. As bad as the courses had been for her earlier this year, the next 3 weeks are perfect Lydia fits and I am committed to the 3 week journey. History suggests that multi-winners don't happen at Evian, but at this number, I'll take a chance. Won her in 2015, has 5 other top 10 finishes with a runner up and a 3rd. T

Yamashita +4000 - Full disclosure, I dont think there are any 40s left, but I think there's a 35 on Fanduel which is well worth it. Straight hitting, laser sharp short irons. Played great at Sahalee which asks similar questions. Legit top 10 player in the world. More importantly, the 3 major winners have been named Mao, Maja, and Minjee. Miyuu would fit that trend.

Ashleigh Buhai +22500 - major winner, bent savant. Needs to play at courses where you can hit a 7 hybrid into the green. 

Pajaree Anannarukarn +30000 - 9th in approach last year, led the field in approach at Tournament of Champions this year though. It's kind of a meme play, but kind of not. Finished 6th here last year and was 10th in 2021. Sandwiched that with two MCs in 2022, 2023 though.