LPGA plays lucrative Evian Masters
BY Bruce Young | Ladies European Tour | 2009 Evian Masters | Preview | 22 Jul 2009
The LPGA Tour, which is under so much pressure at present to retain sponsors in the US, heads to European shores this week for the lucrative Evian Masters at the famed Evian les Bains resort town in eastern France and on the southern shores of Lake Geneva.
The tournament is the first of a significant two event swing in Europe, this event being followed immediately by the Ricoh Women’s British Open next week at Royal Lytham & St Annes in Lancashire, England.
The tournament carries a huge purse of US$3.25 million and a first prize of US$487,500 and is being played for the 10th occasion since its debut as a co-sanctioned event in 2000.
This year’s defending champion will be Sweden’s Helen Alfredsson, who capped a remarkable season in 2008 with her playoff victory over Na Yeon Choi and Angela Park to secure the title for the third occasion having won it twice prior to it becoming an LPGA sanctioned event.
Lorena Ochoa has yet to win this prestigious event but does have a tremendously consistent record here having been no worse than fifth in six starts. She has shown herself not to be at her peak of late but this is a golf course that owes her the victory which might just get her back for next week’s final major of the year.
Ji Yai Shin heads the LPGA Tour money list and did finish 3rd in this event as a relative unknown in 2007 while 2005 winner Paula Creamer overcame a recent thumb injury with a 6th place at the US Open after what had earlier been a great start to the year.
Cristie Kerr has played the event well enough although she has seldom threatened to win perhaps except for 2002 when she was well placed after 54 holes before finishing 10th. Kerr has been in outstanding form this season and it would be no surprise to see add her name to the honour role this week.
The event has been very good to Australians over the years with Rachel Hetherington, Wendy Doolan and Karrie Webb each winning on one occasion. Webb and Hetherington will play this year and will be joined by Lindsey Wright and Katherine Hull.
The field is restricted to 90 players and is jointly sanctioned by both the LPGA and Ladies European Tour.
