Matthieu Camison, General Manager Evian Resort Golf Club (photo ©Lewis Joly) and Amelie Bourdin, Tournament Director The Amundi Evian Championship (photo ©TAEC)

Since 2013, it has been one of five Grand Slam tournaments in women's golf. The Amundi Evian Championship, chaired by Franck Riboud with Jacques Bungert, promotes the discipline and those who practice it. Amélie Bourdin has been tournament director since November 2021 and Matthieu Camison took over the management of the Evian Resort Golf Club in January 2017, the tournament's setting since 1994.

1. Women's Swing: Since last year and for 5 years, the French company Amundi has been the title partner of The Amundi Evian Championship. New sponsor, new name, new endowment… Isn't the tournament about to enter a new era?

Amelie Bourdin: Indeed, the tournament is part of a global dynamic of the rise of women's sport in general, and women's golf in particular. There is a movement of evolution, with a significant increase in the overall prize money of Grand Slam tournaments. The media landscape is becoming denser, with increasingly professional, athletic players, prepared like all the greatest champions in all sports...

2. SF: How does The Amundi Evian Championship contribute to highlighting women's golf?

Amelie Bourdin: Since its creation in 1994, The Amundi Evian Championship has constantly affirmed its ambition to promote the performance of women in sport and to participate in the development of women's golf. It's a commitment that we have been initiating for almost thirty years, with the never denied ambition of allowing players to practice their profession in the best possible conditions. Let's not forget that at that time, women's golf was really a niche sport and the players couldn't make a living from it! We have largely contributed to making them shine through a real international media showcase.

3. SF: Today, your "prize money" is, for a women's tournament, particularly high. Was it important to reward the players as much as possible?

A.B: Indeed, the arrival of Amundi in 2021 has allowed us to make a new gesture on the “prize money”. Thanks to all of our sponsors, it rose to 6,5 million euros this year. We try to continue to create positive momentum for all those women who practice golf and try to make a living from their sport. During the 2022 edition of the tournament, the winner wins 1 million dollars in prize money. If our major status leads us logically to reward sporting performance, we do not forget the whole field. In agreement with the LPGA and the other majors, we have decided to give $2 to all players who will not make the cut. Because for many, it's a real challenge to finance a season.

4. S. F: Speaking of accommodation, the setting of The Amundi Evian Championship, it's the Evian Resort. What is special about this complex, founded in 1909?

Matthew Camison: Already, the setting is absolutely exceptional. You are between the French Alps and Lake Geneva, in a very calm, very natural environment. On the golf side, we have the historic course, “The Champions Course” which is over a hundred years old (1904) and which, from a purely technical point of view, is extremely challenging. It's a real championship course! We are about 400 m above sea level, you almost never have flat feet, so that tells you a little about the difficulty... The greens are of very high quality, and that is the work of almost a lifetime. Hilly and varied, they require a lot of strategy. Once you arrive on the green, I want to say that the hardest part begins! We also have an Academy with David Leadbetter certified teaching. A little box! In addition to the training modules, there is a second 6-hole course, The Lake Course, which allows us to offer our hotel customers a diversified offer. Those in a hurry can slip a golf course into their schedule in less than an hour and fifteen minutes.

5. SF: Becoming “Major”, did that change a lot of things?

Matthew Camison: Already in 2013, when The Amundi Evian Championship became “Major”, the course was completely redesigned. We are the only "Major" in Continental Europe, we are very proud of it! Especially since we are not in a big capital, we are in Évian… A small village! I know that many golfers are happy to be able to compete at this championship course. It's like going on a mythical course, and that's what we hope to become. For that, we take the example of the greatest, like Augusta (one of the most famous and select golf clubs in the world, editor's note). Of course, we feel small in front of these courses and their history, but we are slowly building our own.

6. SF: Finally, let's get back to The Amundi Evian Championship… This year, it takes place from July 21 to 24, what can we expect, anything new?

AB: This year, our field of play is changing, we will welcome the 132 best players in the world. They are our absolute priority and we are committed to offering them ever more services. In particular, we have set up a childcare system, thanks to the Kids Club at the Hôtel Royal, because many are mothers! With our partner Callaway, we have also developed a whole fitting system. On the other hand, since last year, Franck Riboud has wanted to develop our ephemeral structures so that they distort our exceptional setting as little as possible. In our sponsor villages are installed tents of a little Berber style, very refined. We are pursuing this logic in the heart of the public village with eco-designed wooden structures. The idea is to be eco-responsible, while offering a very friendly welcome, with a central square equipped with a giant screen where people come to sit and enjoy!

7. SF: So the future looks green and bright for The Amundi Evian Championship…

AB: It's true that the 5-year partnership with Amundi brings a bit of serenity. It is added to the faithful involvement of other partners committed to the long term such as Rolex, evian or Danone, which allows us to project ourselves. All our energy can then be focused on the evolution of this magnificent tournament, the well-being of the players, the rise of women's golf worldwide and the support of the best young talents across our galaxy and its dedicated events.

CM: Our environmental impact is also one of our priorities. The Evian Resort wanted to join the Golf for Biodiversity Program launched by the FFGOLF and the National Museum of Natural History. At the beginning of the year, we obtained the silver label! A great reward for all our efforts. I also wanted to pick up on Amélie's comments about the galaxy and the importance of supporting new generations. In Evian, everything starts with the youngest from the golf school, where we welcome 120 young people and school golf...

AB: It's a real mission: to grow this tournament and its galaxy, while preserving its DNA, its values ​​and its missions in the service of women's golf.

By Clotilde Boudet

To find out more about The Amundi Evian Championship: click here

For more information on Evian Resort Golf Club: click here

To read our last article on the same subject :

The Amundi Evian Championship increases its prize pool to $6,5 million