2026 Evian Championship: Korda and Co. Battle for the Major on Lake Geneva

From July 9 to 12, 2026, the Evian Resort Golf Club will host the fourth major of the LPGA season. It is the only women’s major on the European mainland, and this year, the world’s top players will compete on a course that has changed significantly over the winter. High above Lake Geneva, 132 players will compete for one of the most prestigious titles in international women’s golf—with total prize money increased to $9.1 million.

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2026 Evian Championship: Korda Leads an Exceptionally Strong Field

At the top of the entry list for the 2026 Evian Championship is world No. 1 Nelly Korda, who, following a strong season, is once again among the top favorites. Behind her, the world’s elite are closing in: Jeeno Thitikul, Hannah Green, Charley Hull, and Japan’s Ayaka Furue are among the contenders, as is France’s Céline Boutier, who can count on special support from her home crowd. A total of 46 players from the top 50 of the Rolex Rankings are in the field—it’s hard to imagine a more competitive field in women’s golf.

Given this depth of talent, the battle for the title is likely to remain open until the very last Putt. That is precisely what has made the Evian Championship one of the most exciting majors of the season in recent years.

The Evian Championship: A Stage for Major Breakthroughs

Hardly any other course in women’s golf has seen as many breakthroughs as the Evian Championship. Most recently, three players in a row claimed their very first major titles here: Grace Kim in 2025, Ayaka Furue in 2024, and Céline Boutier in 2023. A victory high above the lake has, remarkably often, served as the starting point for a truly great career.

Defending champion Kim aims to repeat her triumph. In 2025, she forced a playoff against then-world No. 1 Thitikul with a spectacular Eagle on the 18th hole and went on to win the playoff at 14 under Par. Whether she could have pulled off the same feat in 2026, however, is questionable—because that very final hole looks different today.

Find out everything about the five women’s golf majors here.

The redesigned Evian Championship course raises new questions

Over the winter, the club redesigned the course in a four-month project, altering three holes—most notably the closing Par-5. Working with the original architect, the goal was to make the holes more challenging, as LPGA agronomist John Miller explains: “They wanted to give the holes a little more pizzazz, especially the 18th. It’ll be really exciting to see how our players tackle these holes now.”

Two new fairway bunkers were added to the 18th hole. The first is on the right, right in the middle of the landing zone: “To get past it, you have to hit the middle of the Fairway. If you’re even a little to the left, you’re in the Rough,” says Miller. This eliminates the option for many players to attack the green directly. A second Bunker on the left side further complicates the decision—anyone trying to avoid the first Bunker must either clear the second Bunker or lay up in front of it and attack the green from a greater distance. Under these conditions, Kim’s winning Eagle would be much harder to replicate.

Work was also done on two other holes. On the first hole, a Par 4, the green was extended by about 4.5 meters at the back right and protected by a new Bunker. On the fifth hole, a Par 3, the putting surface has been extended so much that the water hazard just before it now comes back into play. Despite all the changes, the total length of the course remains at around 6,500 yards.

Miller admits that the greens were still too uneven for the new pin positions during the Jabra Ladies Open de France in May. However, he is optimistic about the major: the course has since matured and settled in. “We wanted to invest money to adapt the course so that it is a true major-caliber course.”

Precision Trumps Distance at the Evian Championship

Either way, the Evian Championship demands the full range of skills. Narrow fairways off the Tee, undulating greens, and often shifting winds leave little room for error. Hitting the ball far is by no means an advantage—what matters most is skill with the Irons and composure in the short game when the greens are fast. And despite the new Bunkers, the final hole remains the big Birdie—if not Eagle—opportunity that can turn a tournament on its head. Minjee Lee turned a seven-stroke deficit into her first major title here in 2021.

Evian Championship Kicks Off the European Major Season

The Evian Championship also kicks off the decisive European summer season in women’s golf. It concludes one week before the AIG Women’s British Open —so for many players, it’s not just about a major title, but also about valuable world ranking points ahead of the next highlight. A dream setting overlooking Lake Geneva on one hand, a tough sporting challenge on the other: it is precisely this contrast that sets the Evian Championship apart on the calendar.