Evian and the LPGA make golf history with “Fifth Major” on completely redesigned Evian Golf Club
Long-term commitment; fall date; enhanced global television coverage highlight announcement
Read the press conference transcript >>
EVIAN-LES-BAINS, FRANCE, July 20, 2011 – LPGA Commissioner Mike Whan and Danone Chairman and CEO Franck Riboud today announced that Evian and the LPGA have signed a long-term commitment to add a fifth major to the LPGA Tour schedule beginning in September 2013. The tournament, to be renamed “The Evian,” will be played on a completely redesigned Evian Golf Club with a strong international field and enhanced international television exposure. Whan and Riboud, the visionary behind The Evian, were joined by Tournament Chairman and Director Jacques Bungert, Rolex Rankings No. 1 Yani Tseng, No. 2 Cristie Kerr, No. 3 Suzann Pettersen and LPGA and World Golf Halls of Fame member Karrie Webb for the announcement today.
“Evian has stepped up to make a huge statement for women’s golf worldwide with The Evian,” Commissioner Whan said in his opening remarks. “From the very beginning, Franck Riboud made it clear to the LPGA, and more recently to me, that his vision was to celebrate the absolute best female golfers in the world, in one of the absolute best locations in the world, and today he has confirmed that promise with The Evian.”
“Personally, I never had the pleasure to meet David Foster, the late Chairman and CEO of Colgate-Palmolive, who was the driving force behind the development of the “The Dinah,” as well as other tournaments and marketing approaches that lifted the women’s professional game to new heights,” Whan continued. “However, you didn’t have to know him to realize that as a result of his passion and persistence the game of golf is better. He gave the LPGA a tournament, and a location, that will forever be part of our history. In my mind, Franck shares the passion and persistence, and most importantly the vision, that will no doubt help all of us take women’s professional golf to a completely new level. The Evian will be a tournament, a location, and an atmosphere that young women will strive to be part of for the next few decades.”
The Evian is set to be played the second week of September 2013 and will be the final major of the season following the Kraft Nabisco Championship, Wegmans LPGA Championship, U.S. Women’s Open conducted by the USGA and RICOH Women’s British Open.
“This is a fantastic achievement for all those who have supported us, first and foremost the players, our faithful sponsors, and the media,” Riboud said. “For the region, for this golf resort, for the Evian Masters Organization teams, we are proud to be a part of golf history. I want to extend a special thanks to Mike Whan, the one who made this happen, as well as former commissioner Ty Votaw, whose vision brought us on the LPGA schedule. Finally, our thanks to the players – including Amy Alcott, Annika Sorenstam, Helen Alfredsson, Laura Davies and Juli Inkster – and all the Evian champions, who have supported us from the beginning. There are no sporting events without champions!”
“When we joined the LPGA and became co-sanctioned by the LET and the LPGA, I didn’t expect, even if the ambition was there, that 11 years later we would become a major championship,” Bungert said. “This tournament has a very unique soul, a strong DNA, and our values have been part of this success. We all share that spirit. With players coming from all over the world, we feel we have now an even great
Full Article: LPGA.com News & Entertainment
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