Koreans dominate Evian discussion
BY Bruce Young | Ladies European Tour | 2011 Evian Masters | Preview | 20 Jul 2011
The LPGA Tour joins with the Ladies European Tour this week for one of the flagship events in women’s golf, The Evian Masters in the beautiful Evian-les- Baines in France.
There has been much discussion of late as to the merits of this event becoming a 5th major in the world of women’s golf and the standing the tournament has gained in its eleven years as an LPGA Tour event certainly warrants such debate at least.
This year however it remains as the equal richest purse (along with the US Women’s Open) in the female game and has once again attracted a field certainly befitting of a major championship.
Jiyai Shin is the defending champion having narrowly defeated Na Yeon Choi, Alexis Thompson and Morgan Pressel last year.
Shin might not have won on this year’s LPGA Tour to date but she has been three times runner-up and finished 10th behind fellow countrywoman So Yeon Ryu at the recent US Open. Her chances of a successful defence appear good.
Ryu is a star in the making. Her impressive playoff victory over Seon Hee kyung in Colorado took her to a new level in the game and has given her LPGA Tour status after playing most of her short career to date in Korea. She will not play next week’s Women’s British Open due to a prior committment in Korea so will be keen to take advantage of this opportunity to further her standing in the female game.
World number one Yani Tseng continued her ordinary record at the US Open two weeks ago and her record over this layout is not particularly good either. On that basis it is hard to get excited by her chances.
Na Yeon Choi finished runner-up to Shin last year and although not the consistent player she was in 2010 is not far from where she needs to be to improve sharply.
Suzann Pettersen finished 5th in 2010 and the 30 year old Norwegian has put together some great events in 2011 winning once but being in contention on several other occasions. She is a real chance this week.
The tournament has been good to Australians over the years with Rachel Hetherington, Wendy Doolan and Karrie Webb all having tasted success in the event.
Webb was the last to win it in that great year she enjoyed in 2006 and she has played well enough this season to again be a possible contender. She won twice earlier in the season but her 6th place finish at her last start was also convincing enough for her chances this week.
Webb is joined in the field by fellow Australians Katherine Hull, Lindsey Wright and Kristie Smith with Sarah Jane Smith hoping for a start from the reserve bench.
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