Welcome to this week’s Golf Insider, everyone!
Like I mentioned last week, we’ve got back-to-back LPGA major championships on our hands. From July 9-12, a combined field of LPGA and LET golfers will vie for the Amundi Evian Championship in Évian-les-Bains, France.
The Evian is the second co-sanctioned event of the year for the LPGA Tour and Ladies European Tour. The year’s fourth major championship is the first of three co-sanctioned tournaments across the pond, a staple in the summer portion of the season. This stretch ends with the final major of the season, the AIG Women’s Open.
This is my favorite stretch of the LPGA Tour season, especially because we conclude with two links golf tournaments. The ISPS HANDA Women’s Scottish Open and AIG Women’s Open are two great tests of links golf, what I think is the purest form of the sport. But before we make our way to the U.K. for those links masterpieces, we head further east to the Alps.
Evian Resort Golf Club has undergone some renovations since last year’s tournament. These changes will call on the field to think more critically about pin-seeking on No. 5 and going for the green in two shots on the closing par-5 18th. But that’s just what you love to see in a major, right? More shot selection, more decision-making, more danger.
Courses go through renovations quite a bit, and it’s something we see often with U.S. Open or U.S. Women’s Open venues. But these changes are unique because Evian Resort plays host to this championship every year. There’s no venue rotation with the Evian, no four or six years between occasions at the course. Players are used to seeing this track. This time around, things will be different.
I love this. As if the lakeside track couldn’t get any more astonishing in its perilous beauty.
It’ll be interesting to see how these changes, specifically the addition of bunkers in fairway landing zones on No. 18, will shake up the outcome of the tournament this year. After all, how can last year’s dramatic finish between Grace Kim and Jeeno Thitikul be topped?
Might we have another down-to-the-wire playoff finish? Will a competitor that got so close last year take advantage? I’m talking about Lottie Woad, who — still as an amateur — finished in a tie for third place in 2025. Last year, she shot a final-round 64 to take the clubhouse lead, eventually being topped by Kim and Thitikul.
But that stellar performance was the ticket that got her to the LPGA Tour, as Woad became the first player to gain professional eligibility through the new LPGA Elite Amateur Pathway (LEAP). Woad has fond memories of The Evian, and I anticipate she’ll use those positives going into this major championship, this time, as a pro.
But of course, the player we’re continuing to keep an eye on is Nelly Korda. I don’t want it to feel like I’m rehashing a point over and over again, but what Korda is doing is always worth talking about. And each major championship week that arrives, she’s always going to be in the conversation.
Korda has a chance this week in France to capture her career grand slam and gain enough points for the LPGA Hall of Fame. Even if these narratives are constantly being circulated, I don’t know if Korda is even thinking of these things. The buzz may not hurt or help Korda either way. What seems to be more on her mind is the scheduling of three majors in such a short period of time.
“It’s a lot, definitely,” Korda said during a pre-tournament press conference on July 8.
“The scheduling of three majors in a short amount of time is definitely a lot mentally, physically, and with it being kind of week and a half ago we were in Minnesota and then this week we’re in France and then kind of traveling all over, it can get a lot. So making sure that you’re prioritizing your body, your rest, and not overdoing it.”
And Korda, while trying to manage her physical and mental health during this stretch of the season, needs to manage her relationship with the course as well.
“I’ve hit some really good shots and ended up in some really bad places and hit some bad places and ended up in good places,” Korda said.
“What I learned every year is patience is key out here. I’m still figuring it out. Like it’s year, I don’t know, ten, nine, I don’t really know. Every year I learn something new about this place.”
The course changes will certainly give Korda more to learn about. And maybe this week she silences the “grand slam” voices and just plays the free golf Korda knows how to play. But you never know. Those voices undoubtedly will be difficult to ignore.
There are some players this week who I think will feel right at home, 2023 Evian champion and Frenchwoman Céline Boutier being one of them.
Boutier has been having an up and down season this year, especially when it comes to the majors. Though she does have a win this year at the ShopRite LPGA, she missed the cut at the U.S. Women’s Open and had a tough finish at the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship. Despite that, Boutier feels like her game is trending in the right direction.
“I feel like it’s getting there slowly. Feel like I’ve been playing some solid golf the last few weeks,” Boutier said in a pre-tournament press conference on July 8.
“Definitely feel like I can keep getting better, and so hopefully getting to a good start and put myself in good position.”
Another is Frenchwoman Agathe Laisné, who has two wins on the LET this season. She’s having an outstanding season; after her second LET win at the Joburg Ladies Open, Laisné led the LET Order of Merit for top player of the season. Since then, her form has dipped slightly, but I think a dose of home may help her get her game back.
See you next week to recap what goes down, golf fans.
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This week in women’s golf
LPGA News
Featured groups: 2026 The Amundi Evian Championship
Field breakdown: 2026 The Amundi Evian Championship
How to watch 2026 The Amundi Evian Championship
Course changes will present new challenges at Evian Resort Golf Club
The LPGA Tour’s best shots of June: Hole-outs, long putts and aces
LET News
Nadaud enjoying being surrounded by family and friends at home major
LET number one Alexander feeling prepped and ready for 2026 Amundi Evian Championship
Bennett excited ahead of Amundi Evian Championship debut
LET heads to Evian for fourth major of 2026
Spanish rookie Chacarra wins Hulencourt Women’s Open
Major winner Hall continues comeback after birth of baby boy
Epson Tour News
Things to know about the 2026 Four Winds Invitational
Field breakdown: 2026 Four Winds Invitational
LPGA*USGA Girls Golf Championship makes history with Epson Tour exemption
Amateur Golf News
International squad defeats U.S. in thrilling 2026 Arnold Palmer Cup
Three things to know: 5th U.S. Adaptive Open
5th U.S. Adaptive Open Championship: Inside the field
Fast facts for 2026 U.S. Adaptive Open
Fort Hays State University is ‘pausing’ its golf programs for the 2026-27 season
Five at The IX: Quotes from defending champion Grace Kim ahead of 2026 The Amundi Evian Championship — July 8, 2026
THE MODERATOR: We are very pleased to be joined by our defending champion at the Amundi Evian Championship, Grace Kim. Grace, how does it feel to be back here in Evian and what was the reaction and emotions you felt as you got to go to the course yesterday?
GRACE KIM: I mean, driving in kind of made me think of all the memories that were created last year and obviously all great memories, so it is really nice to be back here in Evian. It’s quite warm this week, which is nice as well.
Yeah, driving in kind of felt weird in a way I guess, but in a good way. Yeah, playing the golf course yesterday I have seen the whole course now. There are some differences on the golf course, especially 18.
So, yeah, we’ll see how this works, but definitely makes the holes trickier than it already was.
Q. Speaking of 18, fun plaque over by the tree where you chipped in. What did you make when you saw that?
KIM: Yeah, I saw it for the first time yesterday and it was really cool. And hearing those people that come to play Evian and trying it out themselves, yeah, kind of makes me feel nice about it.
It is a very cool thing for Evian Resort to put up for it, so I’m really grateful for it. It makes me feel like, you know, a bit after legendary moment, so, yeah, I’m really, really grateful for that.
Q. How has your life changed since becoming a major champion?
KIM: In a way not so much, but I guess behind the scenes a lot in the sense of now I have the flexibility to pick and choose my schedule, which then enables me to build in development blocks to further better my game and scores for the major seasons.
In terms of self-confidence, it’s boosted a lot. But, you know, golf can really humble you quite quickly, so in the times where it does get tough I think I do handle myself a lot better. My aim and purpose hasn’t changed much in that way, so just making sure I reiterate the good things my team has put in me; energy and time as well.
Yeah, in that sense not so much. In the Grace Kim golfer, yeah, it’s changed a lot.
Q. I know the Aussie contingency tends to play well here. What is it about this golf course that suits ya’ll’s game so well?
KIM: I would say this golf course can produce a lot of good and bad, but in terms of working around the golf course I think we’re all pretty skillful in that sense. Lowering our expectations is obviously one, but making sure we take in the exact slope, severity, and, you know, I don’t know, gripping down — like we know what to do to work around this golf course I would say.
I don’t know. I am assuming all golfers in this field are good as well, but maybe we’re just a little bit more switched on to this golf course. I would say there are a lot of different sloped courses all around Australia as well. Maybe having that exposure since a young age helps a lot.
Q. Just wanted to ask you about how you feel about your game right now. Looks like the last couple majors you’ve been close, so just tell us where you’re at.
KIM: I think overall, very solid. Again, I don’t think I’ve quite overcome or capitalized on a score or tournament, so I would say it’s in a decent spot just kind of eliminating the soft bogeys or soft three-putts here and there. I think, yeah, this golf course obviously has lots of good things that gave it to me, but it’s a new week. Everyone is starting fresh from par.
As much as I enjoy reliving those moments on the golf course, I would like to create new ones. Hopefully I can do that. And, yeah, I would say my game is solid enough in a good position to do so.
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