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Nelly Korda's dominant season could be kicked into overdrive this week in France. A victory at the Amundi Evian Championship would give her the career grand slam and put her into the LPGA Hall of Fame.
The last American to do both was Juli Inkster in 1999.
“I think I just try to spin it, of yeah, some people may think it's a lot of pressure,” said Korda, “but I think I'm just really proud of myself for even putting myself into that position and it being talked about.”
Korda, who turns 28 on July 28, is a two-time major winner this season (Chevron, U.S. Women's Open), and had a chance on Sunday earlier this month at the KPMG Women’s PGA. She has finished no worse than eighth in nine stroke-play events this season with four wins. In her first six starts, Korda didn’t finish outside the top two.
How dominant is her play? Korda's 68.51 scoring average of is a full point ahead of her closet competitor, Haeran Ryu. Last year, Jeeno Thitikul’s 68.681 scoring average set a record for the LPGA, besting Annika Sorenstam’s longstanding mark set in 2002.
Ryu comes into the LPGA’s fourth major of the season fresh off a remarkable come-from-behind victory at Hazeltine which saw her 10 strokes back after the first round. One of the best ball-strikers on tour, Ryu’s best finish in France so far is a solo fifth two years ago.
“After winning a major, I feel more free,” she said during a pre-tournament press conference at Evian Resort Golf Club, “and it’s less stressful for me.”
Other noteworthy players to watch include Hyo Joo Kim, a two-time winner on the LPGA this season, who is currently No. 3 in the world. Last week Kim won on the KLPGA for her 16th career win on that tour and the second this season. Kim holds a share of the record for lowest round in a major, a 61, set at the Evian in 2014, which she went on to win in her first major championship appearance.
There’s a plaque now on a tree near the 18th green where 2025 winner Grace Kim pitched in for birdie to extend a playoff against Jeeno Thitikul.
Kim got her first look at it on Tuesday and took a photo. There’s a QR code on the wooden plaque that leads to a video reel of Kim’s heroic shot. She’d go on to eagle the 18th hole to clip Thitikul, who still awaits her first major title.
“I feel like what it has been happening in last year, or couple years later, on in this tournament, it's made me who I am today,” said Thitikul, a two-time winner this season.
Currently No. 2. in the world, Thitikul has four top-10 finishes in six starts at the Evian.
England’s Lottie Woad finished one shot out of a playoff last year as an amateur at Evian. The performance earned her an LPGA card, and she’s gone on to win twice on tour in the last year. Now the fourth-ranked player in the world, Woad has played almost a full schedule of new venues so far in 2026 and said it’s nice to come back to a familiar place.
“It feels like the longest year probably ever,” said Woad. “I was just trying to look back on once I got my card here last year, I think I just matured, had more experiences, which obviously is helpful. Been in a lot more final groups and stuff like that … confidence in myself under pressure is definitely improved.”
Like Woad, the current No. 1 amateur, Kiara Romero, has a chance to earn her LPGA card if she makes the cut this week. The top 65 and ties in the field of 132 will play the weekend.
The University of Oregon's Romero currently has 19 of the 20 points needed play her way onto the LPGA. She recently tied for sixth at the U.S. Women’s Open at Riviera and makes her debut at the Evian.
It’s hot in France, with temperatures in the 90s this week on the shores of Lake Geneva. That’s fine with Korda, who lives it in Florida every summer. Over the years, Korda has learned to appreciate the unique patience that’s required at Evian, where not all good shots are rewarded.
There’s no question that Korda is a different player this year when it comes to dealing with frustration on the golf course. She has talked about it throughout the season and showed incredible grit at Riviera when her tee shots, and her shoes, were too loose.
Though she has only two top 10s in eight appearances at Evian, she comes to France better equipped than ever for the challenge.
“Every year I learn something new about this place,” said Korda.
And a bit about herself.
Beth Ann Nichols is a Golfweek senior writer covering the LPGA and women's golf.
This article originally appeared on Golfweek: Nelly Korda could earn career grand slam, Hall of Fame spot with Evian win
Continue reading...
The last American to do both was Juli Inkster in 1999.
“I think I just try to spin it, of yeah, some people may think it's a lot of pressure,” said Korda, “but I think I'm just really proud of myself for even putting myself into that position and it being talked about.”
You must be registered for see images
Korda, who turns 28 on July 28, is a two-time major winner this season (Chevron, U.S. Women's Open), and had a chance on Sunday earlier this month at the KPMG Women’s PGA. She has finished no worse than eighth in nine stroke-play events this season with four wins. In her first six starts, Korda didn’t finish outside the top two.
How dominant is her play? Korda's 68.51 scoring average of is a full point ahead of her closet competitor, Haeran Ryu. Last year, Jeeno Thitikul’s 68.681 scoring average set a record for the LPGA, besting Annika Sorenstam’s longstanding mark set in 2002.
Ryu comes into the LPGA’s fourth major of the season fresh off a remarkable come-from-behind victory at Hazeltine which saw her 10 strokes back after the first round. One of the best ball-strikers on tour, Ryu’s best finish in France so far is a solo fifth two years ago.
“After winning a major, I feel more free,” she said during a pre-tournament press conference at Evian Resort Golf Club, “and it’s less stressful for me.”
Other noteworthy players to watch include Hyo Joo Kim, a two-time winner on the LPGA this season, who is currently No. 3 in the world. Last week Kim won on the KLPGA for her 16th career win on that tour and the second this season. Kim holds a share of the record for lowest round in a major, a 61, set at the Evian in 2014, which she went on to win in her first major championship appearance.
There’s a plaque now on a tree near the 18th green where 2025 winner Grace Kim pitched in for birdie to extend a playoff against Jeeno Thitikul.
You must be registered for see images
Kim got her first look at it on Tuesday and took a photo. There’s a QR code on the wooden plaque that leads to a video reel of Kim’s heroic shot. She’d go on to eagle the 18th hole to clip Thitikul, who still awaits her first major title.
“I feel like what it has been happening in last year, or couple years later, on in this tournament, it's made me who I am today,” said Thitikul, a two-time winner this season.
Currently No. 2. in the world, Thitikul has four top-10 finishes in six starts at the Evian.
England’s Lottie Woad finished one shot out of a playoff last year as an amateur at Evian. The performance earned her an LPGA card, and she’s gone on to win twice on tour in the last year. Now the fourth-ranked player in the world, Woad has played almost a full schedule of new venues so far in 2026 and said it’s nice to come back to a familiar place.
“It feels like the longest year probably ever,” said Woad. “I was just trying to look back on once I got my card here last year, I think I just matured, had more experiences, which obviously is helpful. Been in a lot more final groups and stuff like that … confidence in myself under pressure is definitely improved.”
Like Woad, the current No. 1 amateur, Kiara Romero, has a chance to earn her LPGA card if she makes the cut this week. The top 65 and ties in the field of 132 will play the weekend.
The University of Oregon's Romero currently has 19 of the 20 points needed play her way onto the LPGA. She recently tied for sixth at the U.S. Women’s Open at Riviera and makes her debut at the Evian.
You must be registered for see images attach
It’s hot in France, with temperatures in the 90s this week on the shores of Lake Geneva. That’s fine with Korda, who lives it in Florida every summer. Over the years, Korda has learned to appreciate the unique patience that’s required at Evian, where not all good shots are rewarded.
There’s no question that Korda is a different player this year when it comes to dealing with frustration on the golf course. She has talked about it throughout the season and showed incredible grit at Riviera when her tee shots, and her shoes, were too loose.
Though she has only two top 10s in eight appearances at Evian, she comes to France better equipped than ever for the challenge.
“Every year I learn something new about this place,” said Korda.
And a bit about herself.
Beth Ann Nichols is a Golfweek senior writer covering the LPGA and women's golf.
This article originally appeared on Golfweek: Nelly Korda could earn career grand slam, Hall of Fame spot with Evian win
Continue reading...
