The prestigious Evian Master is now a Major reports Susanne Kemper.
LPGA Commissioner Mike Whan confirmed the French event as the fifth Major – The Evian.
Evian Masters now a Major - The Evian
The tournament will have a new course layout and will be moved to a new date, the second week in September, 2013 adding a highlight to the Fall schedule and will be the final Major of the year.
Franck Riboud, CEO of Danone, thanked all for all the work and support since he launched the first Evian Masters in 1994.
“We want to keep this a family party, ambiance is very important, just like our soccer match, we will continue to innovate and do new things,” he said.
Major redesign work will be done to the course with important changes to the fifth, 15, 16, 17, and 18th holes to increase challenge, creating more risk and reward situations, and providing better spectator viewing areas.
The pro’s have known for some time and were most receptive.
World No. 1 Yani Tseng said: “We really appreciate it, and really looking forward to the new major in 2013. Very, very exciting.”
Norway’s Suzann Peterssen said: “I’m very happy to bring a second major to Europe. Obviously as the only European at this table, I think it’s fantastic.”
Evian Masters Champion Australian Karrie Webb indicated: “I first played here in ’95, so I’ve been coming for a long time. I think Evian is one of the most beautiful places in the world, a fantastic stage to host the fifth major.”
World Number 3 Cristie Kerr loves the great “Evian recipe- it has all the elements for success- sponsors, site, and ambiance.”
Majors and the LPGA since the beginning….
Founded in 1950, the LPGA had three Majors- US Women’s Open, Titleholders, and the Western Open for the first four years before the LPGA Championship started in 1955 creating four Majors, which were sanctioned until 1966.
Titleholders was started in 1937 at Augusta Country Club in Augusta with the winners of both amateur and professional titles being invited; the majority were amateur as there were few professional women players in these years. Initially no prize money, but in 1948 $600 was on offer. Patty Berg won the initial event and Kathy Whitworth was Champion in 1966, and Sandra Palmer the final isolated year of 1972. The event was recognized as a Major with the founding of the LPGA.
Women’s Western Open was a professional event founded in 1930 and played until 1967. Until 1954 the event was Match Play; then in 1955 it became 72 -hole stroke play with Patty Berg winning in 1955 and Kathy Whitworth, the last in 1967. Western Open was always recognized as a Major by the LPGA.
Known as the duMaurier Classic, this 72-hole stroke play event was promoted to a Major by the LPGA in 1979 with Amy Alcott winning it. In 2000, Meg Mallon won the trophy, the last year of the Classic as the Ricoh Women’s British Open replaced it as the fourth Major on the LPGA calendar starting in 2001.
In 1972 through the efforts of Dinah Shore, The Dinah Shore Tournament was inaugurated in Rancho Mirage, California. In 1983 the Kraft Nabisco Championship – originally called the “Dinah” – was crowned the fourth Major by the LPGA. The Kraft sponsorship is confirmed through 2014 at Rancho Mirage.
