Nelly Korda and Grace Kim Head to Evian Championship

Korda’s Quest for a Historic Third Major

American Nelly Korda arrives at the event with two titles already secured this season, having won the Chevron Championship by a five‑shot margin in April and the US Open in June. The back‑to‑back victories place her in a strong position to become the first player to capture three majors in a single year. She also acknowledges the grueling calendar, noting the mental and physical toll of playing three events within six weeks. Korda stresses the importance of rest, saying that sometimes stepping back is more beneficial than pushing forward.

Kim Returns to Her Memorable Evian Victory

Korean‑Australian Grace Kim steps onto the lake‑side course in France as the defending champion, the player who beat Jeeno Thitikul on the second playoff hole last year. She recalls the dramatic chip from beneath a tree on the 18th green that saved her in the first extra hole, a moment now marked by a blue plaque installed by the organisers. Seeing the plaque yesterday gave her a pleasant reminder of that night, and hearing fans try the same shot adds to the feeling. After winning her first major, Kim says the experience has boosted her confidence and changed the way she handles pressure. She also remarked, “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.”

Thitikul’s Struggle and Rise to World No.2

Thai golfer Jeeno Thitikul, now ranked number two in the world and just behind Korda, still reflects on the heartbreaking finish of last year’s tournament. She explains that missing a short putt on the 18th in regulation kept her from clinching the title, and that the memory fuels her focus. Thitikul shares a mantra about not trying to suppress the setback, but using it constructively to stay positive. Her journey from that loss to the summit of the rankings illustrates the quick turnover in elite golf. She also noted, “You can’t let it go… because if you really don’t and then tell yourself not to, it’s always going to be stuck in your mind.”

The Expanded Major Schedule and Its Impact

The Evian event sits as the fourth of five women’s majors, sandwiched between the PGA Championship won by South Korea’s Ryu Hae‑ran in June and the British Open slated for July 29 at Royal Lytham and St Annes. This stretch of three major tournaments in six weeks creates a packed calendar for the field. Korda admits the rapid succession of events taxes both mind and body, urging players to prioritize rest and listen to their bodies. The compressed schedule also heightens the stakes, as each tournament can shift the world rankings dramatically.