The players to watch during the Evian Championship

This week's Evian Championship is the start of an important tournament swing for the L.P.G.A. while on its way to Europe for back-to-back majors.

Evian has been billed as the fifth major since becoming an L.P.G.A. became. Championship six years ago, but this year the picturesque event in Évian-les-Bains, France, will actually precede the AIG Women's British Open, a week later in Milton Keynes, England.

The tournament has also moved from September to July according to the schedule of the tour, allowing warmer, drier weather on a rolling trail with heavily undulating greens and formidably thick rough possible.

Angela Stanford, in her 18th year on the LPGA tour, won her first major and sixth career tournament at the Evian Championship 2018 to cause a six-year winless drought. She hopes to defend her title this week.

But Stanford will have enough challengers if Stacy Lewis and Gerina Piller return after supplying their first children in 2018. Lewis, with 12 career victories, finished third in the Marathon Classic two weeks ago. Piller is winless on the L.P.G.A. tour.

Lexi Thompson, with one win in 2019, seeks victory at Evian after three top 10 finishes during her last six starts at this event, including the second in 2015.

Thompson, state at number 3 in the world, this year has seven top-10 finishes, including five finishes in the top three, with a third at the ANA Inspiration and a tie at the United States Women & # 39; s Open, both major championships. Thompson's only major win is the 2014 Kraft Nabisco Championship.

The tour has had 15 different individual winners this year after 19 events, with Jin Young Ko, the best-ranked Sung Hyun Park and Sei Young Kim, all from South Korea and Brooke Henderson from Canada win two each.

Here are some players watching Evian Resort Golf Club this week.

Angela Stanford

Stanford, ranked Nr. 44 in the world that enters Evian has had to deal with a broken rib in a tough season. She has missed the cut at five tournaments this year, not posted top 10 & # 39 and recorded two season-best tires for the 23rd, but again, no one chose Stanford to win the Evian in 2018.

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For that reason, winning a major in France last year was no surprise to Stanford, but she was relieved that it finally happened

"I think people measure your career in big championships, and I always felt that I could win one, "said Stanford. "Fortunately I have one at the Evian Championship."

Lydia Ko

If someone has found out how to effectively navigate the Evian Resort Golf Club, Ko has become a regular participant in this event. . She has scored five top 10 finishes in Evian for the past six years, with a win in 2015.

Ko, from New Zealand, is number 21 in the world and despite this season is still non-profit despite of three top 10 finishes. She has won 15 tournaments in her career and she will try to add a second Evian trophy and a third big championship to her record.

"I won my first major at Evian, so I feel the support when I go back to places where I have many good memories and where I have had success," said Ko.

Katherine Kirk

Kirk of Australia hopes that three is the charm if she returns to the Evian this year after a 10th place in 2018 and the third in 2017. The triple tournament winner, ranked 94th in the world, won her last victory in 2017 and is the type of patient long hitter who could see her first major win in France.

She has posted a top 10 and five top 20 finishes this year, but has also missed the cut at five tournaments. A good week on a course where she has played well in recent years could turn things around.

“The golf course is not as demanding as some other majors we play, but it requires a lot of strategic thinking, and you must be smart with where you the v "Place it on the tee and where you hit it on those greens," Kirk said.

Inbee Park

This LPGA Hall of Famer seems to have a preference for Evian, with three top 10 finishes in the last six years, including a draw for the eighth in 2018. Park won here in 2012 before the event became a big championship and would make a win this week Park an LPGA Winner Super Career Grand Slam – with wins at every major available during her career.

Entering Evian as the world's number 5, the South Korean player hopes to build on her record of 19 career wins and seven majors. She also wants to place a win this season to improve her four top 10 finishes with two draws for second place.

"Every time I play in the majors, I still have the feeling that I still have a win," she said. "I just have to get something going."

Bronte Law

Law, number 24 in the world, joins the French Céline Boutier as Europe's only tournament winners this season on the LPGA tour.This third-year tour member from Stockport, England, achieved her first title at the end of May three weeks after placing a draw for second place

A seven-time winner of a collegiate tournament at the University of California, Los Angeles, The law returns to Evian for her fourth career start. also two-time English amateur amateur champion and member of the Curtis Cup team 2014.

“Playing the course this summer should be less wet than we have played it in previous years, but I know it that if you put well in Evian, you ee n can post a good number, "she said.