Nelly Korda Headlines Star-Studded Field as Amundi Evian Championship Brings New Storylines

The LPGA Tour returns to Europe this week for the 2026 Amundi Evian Championship. The year’s fourth major begins July 9 at Evian Resort Golf Club in Evian-les-Bains, France. Fans can expect one of the strongest fields of the season. The tournament features 132 players and a $9.1 million purse. Additionally, 46 of the world’s top 50 golfers will compete for one of women’s golf’s biggest prizes.

World No. 1 Nelly Korda enters the championship as one of the favorites. She looks to rebound after an unusual finish at the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship. Korda tied for eighth after closing with a 1-over 73 at Hazeltine. Even so, she refused to focus on the missed opportunity. Instead, she expressed disappointment with her overall play, especially after making four bogeys and a double bogey during the final round.

Korda explained that outside expectations never distracted her pursuit of a third straight major title. Instead, she concentrated on every shot rather than watching the leaderboard. That mindset has guided her throughout an incredible season. Nevertheless, Hazeltine reminded everyone that even the world’s best players face difficult weeks.

Despite the setback, Korda continues to enjoy one of the strongest seasons in LPGA history. She has won both the Chevron Championship and the U.S. Women’s Open. Remarkably, Hazeltine marked only the third event all season where she failed to finish first or second. Those results highlight her remarkable consistency throughout 2026.

Following the demanding stretch of major championships, Korda plans to recharge before returning to competition. She intends to spend several days resting before resuming practice. Afterward, she will travel back to Europe for the Evian Championship. Then, she plans to remain overseas for the ISPS Handa Women’s Scottish Open before preparing for the AIG Women’s Open.

History remains within Korda’s reach this season. A victory at either the Evian Championship or the AIG Women’s Open would complete the career Grand Slam. Furthermore, she sits only two Hall of Fame points away from earning LPGA immortality. One more major championship or two regular LPGA victories would officially secure her place among golf’s legends.

Although Korda leads the headlines, the Evian field features outstanding depth. World No. 2 Jeeno Thitikul arrives as another leading contender. Meanwhile, Lottie Woad continues her rapid rise after turning professional last season. Hannah Green, Charley Hull, Haeran Ryu, Ruoning Yin, Lydia Ko, Minjee Lee, Brooke Henderson, Hyo Joo Kim, and Rose Zhang also strengthen an impressive championship lineup.

Fresh off her first major championship victory, Haeran Ryu enters France carrying tremendous momentum. Her victory at Hazeltine established her among the elite players on tour. Likewise, Woad continues to build one of the sport’s most impressive young careers. She already owns two LPGA victories and currently ranks fourth in the world.

Last season, Woad nearly captured the Evian Championship before finishing one shot short of a playoff. Even without the trophy, she secured enough LPGA Elite Amateur Pathway points to earn her tour card. Shortly afterward, she won the Scottish Open in her professional debut. Since then, she has quickly become one of the LPGA’s brightest stars.

This year’s amateur spotlight shifts toward American standout Kiara Romero. The world’s top-ranked amateur enters Evian with a chance to earn her LPGA Tour card. Romero expects to collect her 19th LEAP point while representing the United States at the Arnold Palmer Cup. Then, she needs only to make the cut in France to secure her 20th point and officially claim LPGA membership. Romero already owns an outstanding amateur resume. Earlier this season, she finished tied for sixth at the U.S. Women’s Open. That performance earned low amateur honors and guaranteed her a place in next year’s championship at Inverness. Her steady improvement makes her one of the most intriguing players to watch this week.

Several other elite amateurs will also test themselves against the world’s best professionals. Six amateurs earned places in the Evian field. Among them, Aphrodite Deng and Asterisk Talley continue attracting attention after outstanding performances this year. Deng recently committed to Stanford, while Talley will join the Cardinal program in 2027.

Farah O’Keefe also arrives with significant momentum after winning the 2026 NCAA Championship for the University of Texas. Additionally, Maria Jose Marin returns after making the cut at last year’s Evian Championship. 

South Korea’s Yunseo Yang also qualified after winning the Women’s Amateur Asia-Pacific Championship. Recently, Yang finished runner-up against professionals at the Korea Women’s Open. The amateur class already proved its strength throughout 2026. Romero and Marin both finished inside the top 10 at the U.S. Women’s Open. Meanwhile, Deng, Talley, and O’Keefe also survived the cut. Talley even produced a historic bogey-free 66 during the weekend. That round became the lowest weekend score ever recorded by an amateur in the championship.

Consequently, the 2026 Amundi Evian Championship promises compelling storylines across every level of the leaderboard. Korda seeks redemption and more history. Ryu hopes to continue her major-winning form. Rising stars like Woad and Romero aim to create unforgettable moments. With one of the deepest fields of the year and another major championship on the line, France should provide another memorable week for women’s golf