For the 29th time in our history an Australian enters a major championship as the defending champion and for Minjee Lee, it is the first of two inside the next 12 months.

Lee’s victory at the 2021 Amundi Evian Championship was remarkable not only for the time it took to achieve but the manner in which she did it.

Ten strokes back after 36 holes. Seven strokes adrift with one round left to play.

It was not the obvious occasion to break her major duck yet a closing 64 and a two-putt birdie at the first playoff hole saw her become Australia’s 15th major winner, a feat she would repeat at this year’s US Women’s Open in commanding fashion.

Evian Resort Golf Club in the south-east of France has proven to be fertile ground for Australian winners, dating back to before it was elevated to major championship status.

Originally played as the Evian Masters from 1994 on the Ladies European Tour, it became a LPGA Tour co-sanctioned event in 2000, Rachel Hetherington the first to taste victory in 2001.

Wendy Doolan and Karrie Webb were champions in 2004 and 2006 respectively before becoming the Evian Championship in 2013 and declared the year’s final women’s major.

It now sits as the fourth of the five women’s majors and is this year worth $US6.5 million in total prize money, an increase of $2 million since Lee’s victory 12 months ago.

There are five Australians in the field this week with Hannah Green, Su Oh and Sarah Kemp all boasting prior top-30 finishes in the championship.

Lee has been paired with fellow 2021 major winners In Gee Chun and Jennifer Kupcho and begins her opening round at 4.27pm AEST.

The Amundi Evian Championship Evian Resort Golf Club Evian-les-Bains, France Defending champion: Minjee Lee Past Aussie winners: Rachel Hetherington (2001), Wendy Doolan (2004), Karrie Webb (2006), Minjee Lee (2021)

Live TV coverage

Thursday 7pm-10pm and 11.30pm-2.30am on Fox Sports 503

Friday 7pm-10pm and 11.30pm-2.30am on Fox Sports 503

Saturday 7.30pm-11pm on Fox Sports 505; 11pm-12.55am on Fox Sports 503

Sunday 7.30pm-1am on Fox Sports 503

Aussies in the field Minjee Lee World ranking: 2 Age: 26 Major wins: 2 (2021 Evian Championship; 2022 US Women’s Open) LPGA Tour wins: 8 Best finish at Evian Championship: Won in 2021 Best finish in 2022: Won Cognizant Founders Cup; Won US Women’s Open

Hannah Green World ranking: 18 Age: 25 Major wins: 1 (2019 KPMG Women’s PGA Championship) LPGA Tour wins: 2 Best finish at Evian Championship: T30 in 2019 Best finish in 2022: Won Vic Open; Won TPS Murray River

Stephanie Kyriacou World ranking: 106 Age: 21 Major wins: 0 LPGA Tour wins: 0 Best finish at Evian Championship: T65 in 2021 Best finish in 2022: T6 at Saudi Ladies International

Su Oh World ranking: 116 Age: 26 Major wins: 0 LPGA Tour wins: 0 Best finish at Evian Championship: T14 in 2017 Best finish in 2022: Won Australian WPGA Championship

Sarah Kemp World ranking: 184 Age: 36 Major wins: 0 LPGA Tour wins: 0 Best finish at Evian Championship: T19 in 2021 Best finish in 2022: T10 at Dow Great Lakes Bay Invitational

Championship site https://amundi.evianchampionship.com/

Social Media Twitter: @EvianChamp https://twitter.com/EvianChamp

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