press kit - Evian Championship

THE evian championship 2013
PAGE 2 -The first ever golf Major in Continental Europe
pAGE 3 -Presenting the new-look course at the EVIAN RESORT GOLF CLUB
Page 6 -The world’s golfing elite: THE TOP 120 PLAYERS heading for Evian
PAGE 8 -Tournament partners
Page 10 -Practical guide to the tournament and side events
The Evian Championship
The first Major in continental Europe
From 12 to 15 September, Continental Europe will host the first ever golf Major in its history, The Evian
Championship. Following the Kraft Nabisco Championship, the LPGA Championship, the US Women’s
Open and the Women’s British Open, the newest Major, with its strategic end-of-season date, will feature
the greatest women golfers in the world.
”We are immensely proud to see our tournament, launched with my father
Antoine in 1994, gain Major status. We have worked tirelessly to give The
Evian Championship a stage in keeping with its international status, ever
more spectacular and totally dedicated to pure golf, in the great tradition
of Major courses. Whilst the complete redesign of the course is without
doubt the biggest transformation for this new era in the tournament’s history,
we have also made a lot of changes to every moment of this wonderful
week in Evian, all with the same aim: to guarantee everyone a unique and
unforgettable golfing experience.”
Franck Riboud,
Chairman & CEO of Danone,
Chairman of The Evian Championship
Annika Sorenstam, Laura Davies, Helen Alfredsson, Lorena Ochoa, Ai Miyazato, Paula Creamer, Michelle Wie… the
greatest women golfers of the last 20 years have taken to the course at the Evian Resort, writing new pages in
the course’s history and driving it onwards and upwards to the pinnacle of world golf. Situated between the lake
and mountains, the 18-hole course has been entirely redesigned since last summer, in keeping with its new Major
status. The new layout is even more spectacular and strategic, with a distinctive signature design that reflects a
strong commitment to the environment.
“It’s incredibly pleasing to see that the first competition selected for major
status in a non-English speaking country is a women’s tournament, The
Evian Championship. It’s a reflection of just how much women’s sport, and
golf in particular, has won over the public and media. This is well-deserved
recognition for the talent and performances of its female champions, and
its ability to innovate and move with the times! It’s exciting and promising,
and it’s also a big responsibility for us all.”
Jacques Bungert,
Director of The Evian Championship
2
A Fortnight of Golf
Highlights at Evian
The Evian Championship continues its long-standing commitment to young people, with the same global vision
of golf’s future. Following in the footsteps of the champions at The Evian Championship, the young international
talents of The Evian Championship Juniors Cup, followed by the youngest players competing in the Haribo Kid’s
Cup, will play their own part in what promises to be a stunning fortnight of golf in Evian.
The Evian Championship Juniors Cup
The Haribo Kid’s Cup
Tuesday 17 and Wednesday 18 September
Saturday 21 and Sunday 22 September
Following on straight after the
new Major, the best golfers
(boys and girls) in the under-14
junior age group will have the
exceptional opportunity to play
in their own competition on
the same course as the world
champions. The 7th edition
of this mixed international
tournament, played in two
rounds of stroke play, will this
year bring together players
from 20 nations, including the United States, India, Indonesia,
Russia, Norway, Switzerland and of course France. All of these
young talents will be invited to attend the final of The Evian
Championship on the Sunday.
After the Juniors,
it will be the
turn
of
the
youngest players
the
following
weekend. Over
150 boys and girls
aged between
8 and 12 have
secured a place
in the final of
the Haribo Kid’s
Cup, having made it through the qualifying rounds
organized across France during the spring. The final
of the 4th edition will take place over two rounds of
stroke play, over distances adapted for their age.
The Evian Championship
Rounding off the summer in style
For all golf lovers, the tournament has always been an essential
highlight of the sporting calendar. Loyal fans include Hugh
Grant, Thomas Gibson, Dany Boon, Zinedine Zidane, Bixente
Lizarazu, Laurent Blanc, Jean-Claude Killy and Elsa Zilberstein…
For 20 years, the quality of the sporting spectacle combined
with the magic of the Evian Resort have ensured the tournament
remains a firm favourite with personalities from the sporting
world and beyond. The charity soccer match in aid of the
ELA has gradually become an event-within-an-event, bringing
together an impressive roll-call of big names from international
football, alongside the golfers and their caddies, on the pitch
at the Stade of Evian. This year, the match will take place on
Friday 13 September, with kick off at 6pm.
3
The Major Course
Star of the tournament
After nine months of titanic work, the all new Evian Resort Golf Club will finally
open on 1st July 2013, ready to take its place in Major history.
Franck Riboud, Yannick Le Hec and the course staff have enlisted top international
experts to produce a course that is spectacular, strategic and unique, with its
own signature style. The course has been redesigned by the architectural firm EGD
represented by South African Dave Sampson, along with Britain Jeremy Slessor,
(who designed the course at the Celtic Manor, the Ryder Cup in 2010), under the
expert eye of Steve Smyers, the American architect and LPGA consultant.
The 5th before construction
The new course at the Evian Resort Golf Club has a total par value of 71 (6,428
yards). All the tees have been modified and the fairways reworked. The greens
have been given special attention: all have been remodelled, and they are now
firmer and more technical, with a larger surface area allowing six flag positions.
They are defended by more numerous, more ambitious obstacles, in particular
newly created or enlarged water hazards, with a large number of deeper bunkers
repositioned across the course.
The 5th during construction
The Evian Puzzle is the name given to the new heart of the course, the crucial
run-in of the 15th, 16th, 17th and 18th, where all will be decided! This zone, which is
situated in front of the Club House, exceptionally allows the spectators to get closer
than ever to the players. The metal grandstands
have been replaced by more natural structures
offering unique views of the play, whilst ensuring
none of the final drama is lost.
The 5th after construction
The signature hole of this new-look course will be the 5th. This blind par 4 is now a
par 3 with an island green and a 100 yard long water hazard to be negotiated.
KEY FIGURES
The 18th before construction
8,000m² of lawns grown
on the course over more than a year
90,000 m3 of materials moved (earth, vegetation)
The 18th during construction
75,000 m² of turf
25,000 m3 of water stored
for 1 to 2 months’ watering
180 trees planted
(fruit trees and local varieties)
The 18th after construction
4
Course Layout
Yannick Le Hec,
Superintendent of the course
Score Card
HOLE
PAR
YARDS
TROU
PAR
YARDS
1
4
395
10
4
406
2
3
165
11
4
353
3
4
343
12
4
428
4
4
414
13
5
499
5
3
179
14
3
221
6
4
377
15
5
527
7
5
529
16
3
155
8
3
189
17
4
331
9
5
475
18
4
442
FRONT NINE
35
3066
BACK NINE
36
3362
TOTAL
71
6 428
The Academy
The Evian Resort
An exceptional venue, steeped in golf
A golf resort par excellence, the Evian Resort concentrates a comprehensive collection
of top level golf facilities and services at a single site. The infrastructures include: a brand
new Major course, two luxury hotels (the Royal 5 star and the Ermitage 4 star), spas offering
specially created treatments for golfers, the Evian Resort Golf Club Academy, a unique
practice site for honing skills... An unrivalled package of services and facilities, open to pro
and amateur golfers from all over the world, all year round.
During The Evian Championship week, the Resort is entirely dedicated to the tournament.
The Hotel Royal will be hosting the opening and gala evenings, whilst the spas will be taking
good care of the players and guests. The Academy, meanwhile, will be the official practice
site for the players, with some having the unique opportunity to stay at the very heart of the
site, in one of the seven beautiful rooms at the Manoir du Golf.
5
The 120 Best Players in the World
They’ve dreamed about it, they’ve supported it…
The 120 best women golfers in the world will all be at Evian to compete in the first major to be held in continental
Europe! An unprecedented moment, as they discover the brand new course. Which of these champions will etch
their name into history by becoming the first ever winner of The Evian Championship?
The World Number One / Inbee Park
24 yrs old (12/07/1988), South Korea
N°1 in the Rolex Rankings*
5 LPGA Tour victories*, including the first two Majors of the season
2 LPGA Tour victories in 2012, including the Evian Masters
10 Top 5 finishes on the LPGA Tour in 2012
Originally from Seoul, Inbee Park, who has been playing since the age of 10, moved to
the United States where she quickly began winning amateur tournaments, including nine titles on the Junior Golf
Association tour (AJGA). She has also been nominated five times for the Rolex Junior All-America Awards. Inbee
Park turned professional in 2006, and qualified for the LPGA Tour that same year. Two years later, at the age of just 19,
she became the youngest player in history to win the women’s US Open. In 2013, Inbee Park confirmed her World
number one status, collecting her first two Major titles at the Kraft Nabisco Championship and the Wegmans LPGA
Championship. The reigning champion will be the one to beat in Evian!
The World Number Two / Stacy Lewis
28 yrs old (16/02/1985), USA
N°2 in the Rolex Rankings*
2nd in the Evian Masters in 2011 and 2012
2 LPGA Tour victories in 2013 (RR Donnelley LPGA Founders Cup and HSBC Women’s Champions)
45 Top 10 finishes on the LPGA Tour since turning pro
16 Top 10 finishes on the LPGA Tour in 2012
With a brilliant amateur record from her years at the University of Arkansas, including 12
victories and 4 ”All-American” titles, Stacy Lewis turned pro in 2008 and joined the US Tour in 2009. Her first win was a
master stroke: a Major, the 2011 Kraft Nabisco Championship. Crowned Rolex Player of the Year in 2012, after racking
up 4 titles over the course of the season, she became the first American to achieve that distinction since Beth Daniel
in 1994. Determined, consistent and even topping the Rolex Rankings from 18 March to 14 April 2013, she has the best
average on the LPGA Tour at the halfway point in the season (69.42). So she has everything she needs in her armoury
to turn her 2nd place in Evian last year into a title-winning performance this time around.
The Phenomenon / Lydia Ko
16 yrs old (24/04/1997), New Zealand
1st in the World Amateur Golf Rankings*
16th in the Rolex Rankings*
2 Top 10 finishes on the LPGA Tour in 2012
Originally from Seoul, Lydia Ko moved to New Zealand aged five, and it was there that she
began her golfing career. In 2012, aged just 14, she finished at the top of the leaderboard at the Women’s New South
Wales Open, a LPGA Tour tournament. In doing so, she became the youngest player in history - man or woman - to
win a professional tournament at this level. Her meteoric rise continued in 2013, as she became the first woman from
New Zealand to win the New Zealand Women’s Open and the youngest player ever to win an LET tournament. Lydia
Ko is currently 18th in the Rolex Rankings, having taken part in just 15 pro tournaments as an amateur.
6
The European Revelation / Charley Hull
17 yrs old (20/03/1996), England
N°3 in the LET Order of Merit*
3rd in the World Amateur Golf Rankings in 2012
4 top 5 finishes on the Ladies European Tour
At 17 years of age, Charley Hull is already making a big name for herself. A brilliant amateur
with a string of titles in the United States and Great Britain, she took part in the Kraft Nabisco Championship and the
Women’s British Open in 2012. Last year also saw her confirm her potential, achieving a notable third place in the
World Amateur Golf Rankings. Since turning pro on 1st January 2013, the bubbly Brit has taken second place in the
four tournaments in which she has featured, at the midway point in the season. That proved enough to see her top the
European order of merit in mid-June. She’s one to watch...
The French Number One / Karine Icher
34 yrs old (26/01/1979), France
25th in the Rolex Rankings*
French n°1
12th at the 2012 Evian Masters
5 victories on the Ladies European Tour
6 Top 10 finishes on the LPGA Tour in 2012
Committed and tenacious, Karine Icher is currently flying the flag for French golf in the United
States. Following the birth of her daughter Lola in 2011, the player from Châteauroux quickly returned to the fairways
and fine performances. European Champion in 1998 and amateur world champion the following year, Karine Icher
wasted no time in turning pro, in September 2000. From 2001, she lit up the European tour, winning two of her six titles
this side of the pond. Having moved to the US Tour in 2003, Karine Icher is now the highest-placed French player in the
Rolex Rankings, in the Top 25 as of mid-June. In Evian, cheered on by her home crowd, she’ll be determined to produce
her best.
*Rankings and performances given at 24/06/2013
Selection criteria
In order to be part of the elite line-up competing in The Evian Championship, the players must qualify based on new
selection criteria. With its new scheduled date at the end of the season, the field at Evian is sure to include the world’s
very best, along with those players who have made an impact in 2013.
1 The top 40 players in the Rolex Rankings
as of 3 Sep. 2013
6 The top 5 players in the 2013 LET Order of Merit
as of 3 Sep. 2013
2 Winners of the Evian Masters currently still playing
7 Winner of the 2013 U.S. Women’s Amateur
(still having amateur status during the tournament)
3 Winners of the four Majors: the 2013 Kraft Nabisco
Championship, the 2013 Wegmans LPGA
Championship, the 2013 US Women’s Open
and the 2013 Ricoh Women’s British Open
8 The amateur winner of the 2013 British Ladies Amateur
(still having amateur status during the tournament)
4 Winners of the official LPGA Tour (US) tournaments
in 2013
5 Winners of the official LET Tour (European)
tournaments in 2013
9 Six invitations to The Evian Championship
10 To complete the field, the top players
in the 2013 LPGA Order of Merit as of 3 Sep. 2013
Highest Prize Money
in the World
$ 3,250,000
7
Partners
Since its creation, The Evian Championship Sponsors Club has played an important role in enhancing the
tournament’s profile and visibility. Our sponsors’ loyalty, commitment and professionalism are hallmarks of the
culture so unique to the Evian Masters and now The Evian Championship, and have enabled the tournament to
grow in stature and, ultimately, to achieve its current Major status.
Major Partners
“Rolex is proud to support the Evian Championship in its
first edition as a Major. Rolex has believed in the success
of this event since the partnership was forged in 2000. This
prestigious tournament has a special place among all of
the women’s tournaments sponsored by our brand. It reflects
Rolex’s immense commitment to golf, with which its shares the
values of excellence, performance and prestige.”
“This year marks a milestone in the history of The Evian
Championship and evian® is proud to host the most famous
players of women’s golf on its home ground for the last “major”
tournament of the season. Throughout the week, evian® will
twist the event, bringing the Live Young spirit to the spectators,
especially with its BabyMaton that will reveal their inner baby!”
“2013 is a special year for LACOSTE which celebrates its 80th
anniversary and also, 20 years of partnership with The Evian
Championship! During the tournament, LACOSTE will enjoy
a booth within the Partners’ Village. The audience will as well
be able to meet the brand’s champions during the LACOSTE
Clinic. Throughout the tournament, the Crocodile will organize
many surprises!”
“SOCIéTé GéNéRALE has been supporting golf through the
French Golf Federation since 2001 and The Evian since 2008.
As a complement to rugby, golf enables Société Générale to
offer a strategy of sports partnerships in line with the diversity
of its financial activities and businesses in 76 countries. At
the Evian Championship 2013, Société Générale continues
to support the Handigolf Association though the « Birdie for
Charity » initiative.”
“In 2013, Renault will be a leading partner of the Evian
Championship : this international golf tournament is a natural
reflection of our shared values of protecting the environment
and supporting sustainable development.
Renault will provide a wide range of low-emission vehicles
equipped with high-performance, economical engines
featuring the technological excellence acquired in F1, for use
by players, guests and organisers.
This partnership confirms Renault’s commitment to highlevel sports competitions and plays a part in the group’s
international expansion plans.”
8
Official Partners
“Randstad is pleased to
be an official partner of
The Evian Championship.
In addition to its impact on
image and communication,
this partnership will extend
the group’s commitment to
women’s golf in France. It will also provide a valuable opportunity
for Randstad to invite its clients to a high-profile event in an
exceptionally prestigious setting.”
”Haute-Savoie enjoys a unique
natural setting, and is a land
of sport and champions.
The Haute-Savoie General
Council is a special partner
to numerous sports events
organized in the Department
and is proud to contribute to the success and global exposure of
the Evian Championship. 2013 edition will be the opportunity to
promote the region’s fantastic tourism opportunities.”
“In today’s fast changing
world, IBM aims to provide the
innovation that our customers
need to grow their businesses.
IBM’s sporting partnerships
are both a laboratory for new
ideas and experiences, and
the ideal way to showcase cutting edge technologies for our
customers. That’s why we have been proud supporters of The Evian
Championship since 2000.”
“Vodafone, one of the world’s
leading telecommunications
brands, will jointly partner with
SFR for the first edition of the
2013 Evian Championship.
Vodafone has supported golf
events around the world since
2008. These include: Vodafone Fiji’s support of the Amateur Mixed
Golf Tournament in 2008; the Czech Golf Open 2009 golf tournament
and the 2012 Czech Vodafone Meridian Golf Tour; Vodafone Essar
title sponsorship of the inaugural Vodafone Royals Trophy golf
tournament in Kolkata, India in 2010; the Vodafone Summer league
golf event at Doha golf course in 2011 and in 2012 as partner of the
BMW International Open. In South Africa, a contract is in place until
2015 to support the Vodacom Origins of Golf.
Vodafone is proud to be one of The Evian Championship partners.”
“Accenture
is
a
global
management
consulting,
technology
services
and
outsourcing company, with
approximately 261,000 people
serving clients in more than
120 countries. Combining
unparalleled experience, comprehensive capabilities across all
industries and business functions, and extensive research on the
world’s most successful companies, Accenture collaborates with
clients to help them become high-performance businesses and
governments.
Accenture is proud to be a sponsor of the world-renowned, The
Evian Championship, and to be associated its values of excellence
and high performance.”
Official Suppliers
9
Spectators
COME TO EVIAN
Online ticket office offering specially discounted rates: http://www.evianchampionship.com/fr/evian-championship/
tickets/
Accommodation: http://www.evianchampionship.com/fr/venir-a-evian/
Prices in euros - Tournament Ticket Office
Tournament
Monday
Advance sales Members
Advance sales General public
THE EVIAN
CHAMPIONSHIP
On-the-day Members
On-the-day General public
Thursday
Friday
Saturday
Sunday
4 Days
Week-end
12
12
17
17
40
28
15
15
20
20
50
35
15
15
20
20
50
35
25
25
35
35
60
50
Reductions
Free for under
-18s and PGA
pros
Getting there:
From Evian town center: free shuttles
Transport:
By air: Geneva (50km) or Lyons Saint-Exupéry airports (190 km)
By train: stations at Evian, Bellegarde or Geneva (45 km)
By car: 45 km from Geneva – 85 km from Annecy – 190 km from Lyon – 580 km from Paris
ON-SITE
The Evian Resort Golf Club and the Evian Resort Academy, the official practice site for the players, will be open to the
general public from Thursday 12 to Sunday 15 September.
Located behind the main public entrance, on the former practice range, alongside the 1st hole, the Swinch Village
is the place to go for all visitors, with over 25 exhibitors and a Mall, Lacoste boutique, Evian area, big screen showing
action from the tournament, Starbucks, restaurant area, practice cage and putting green in the Société Générale Golf
Park, all with a packed programme of games, activities and entertainments.
For novices and experienced golfers, The Evian Championship will be offering the chance to get a firsthand look at the
course with special guides coming along to pass on their tips. Free registration at the Swinch Village.
Three places to eat: Swinch Village, 6th hole, 15th hole.
10
DIGITAL MEDIA
All year round, stay up to date with the latest news from the world of women’s golf, follow the world’s top players, keep track
of tournament scores live, get sneak peeks behind the scenes, and more... For the complete lowdown on the tournament:
Official website: www.evianchampionship.com / Event site online in August
Twitter: @evianchamp
Facebook: Facebook.com/evianchampionship
THE EVIAN CHAMPIONSHIP COLLECTION
The Evian Championship presents a wide selection of official golf merchandise: textiles, baseball caps, balls, tees, divot tools,
head covers...The complete range will be available from the tournament’s online store, at the Pro Shop at Evian Resort Golf
Club all year round, and at the Mall in the heart of the public village during the tournament.
1
5
2
3
6
7
4
8
9
10
1. Flag - 2. Tees - 3. White polo shirt - 4. GTXtreme gloves - 5. White beanie hat - 6. White panama hat
7. Golf ball - 8. Divot tool - 9. Keyring - 10. Cap clip
11
TV
Coverage
The tournament’s new Major status has brought an immediate and
significant impact to its media profile. On television, the 22 hours of
live coverage will be screened by 127 channels worldwide, including
NBC in the United States, Sky Sport in the United Kingdom, Wowow in
Japan and of course Canal+ in France.
Key
131
COUNTRIES
Figures
22
HOURS OF LIVE COVERAGE
over 300
INTERNATIONAL JOURNALISTS EXPECTED
Monday 9 September
◦Player’s training
Tuesday 10 September
◦Player’s training
◦The Evian Championship Pro-Am
◦Opening evening at the Hôtel Royal (by invitation)
Wednesday 11 September
◦Official Rolex Invitational Pro-Am
◦Player’s training
◦Pre-tournament press conferences
◦Rolex Dinner at the Hôtel Royal (by invitation)
Thursday 12 September
◦The Evian Championship – 1st Round
◦Press evening at the Hôtel Ermitage
Friday 13 September
◦The Evian Championship – 2nd Round
Cut Announcement
◦6pm - Soccer match
◦Welcome party (by invitation)
Saturday 14 September
◦The Evian Championship – 3nd Round
◦6pm - Clinic Lacoste
◦The Evian Championship Ceremony
La Grange au Lac (by invitation)
◦Gala dinner at the Hôtel Royal (by invitation)
Sunday 15 September
◦The Evian Championship – 4nd Round
◦Award ceremony on the 18th Green
Press information
• Press contacts – The Evian Championship:
Olivia Payerne. T. + 33 (0)146 040 862 - [email protected]
• Press contacts - Evian Resort: Karine Zegrir. T. + 33 (0)450 269 688 – [email protected]
• Press accreditations: www.lpgamediacredentials.com.
• Press room open from Monday 9 to Sunday 15 September 2013.
• Accommodation – press releases – photos: www.evianchampionship/fr/media
- RCS 795 780 113 THONON - Photo credits : © The Evian Championship Images - P.Millereau/KMSP-Olivier
Gauthier/KMSP-F.Froger /D4 - Matthew Lewis/Getty Images - G. Trillard / Evian Resort - Tristan Jones/LET. - TLMALP.
The Program