HANNAH GREEN
World ranking: 7
Age: 27
Professional wins: 12
Best finish at the Evian Championship: T30 (2019)
The lowdown: As she has shown over the course of her career, and repeatedly in 2024, Green is a world-class player and major winner, however, this is without question her least happy hunting ground of the majors.
Sharing 24th at the KPMG Women’s PGA after a bumpy start, Green will arrive rested and revitalised after a visit home as she prepares for her second Olympics at nearby Le Golf National, and her ball striking will again be on full display around this testing layout.
Finding more fairways will be a key for the West Australian this week, however, she as the current leader in Putts per Green in Regulation (GIR) and hitting nearly 72 percent of greens, it won’t take much for Green to find herself right in contention for a third win of the year.
SARAH KEMP
World ranking: 149
Age: 38
Professional wins: 12
Best finish at the Evian Championship: T19 (2021)
The lowdown: Although failing to make the weekend in her last three starts, Kemp will be buoyed by the familiarity of an event she has played eight of nine times since it became a major back in 2013.
Recording her best ever major championship finish at The Evian, Kemp has shown signs of her career-best form of last year so far in 2024 and is well-equipped with the occasionally frustrating nature of this week’s host venue.
Having a good year with the putter and scrambling, Kemp’s accuracy off the tee should hold her in good stead this week.
GRACE KIM
World ranking: 70
Age: 23
Professional wins: Four
Best finish at the Evian Championship: MC (2023)
The lowdown: It was another made major cut, and valuable experience, for Kim at the KPMG Women’s PGA, with her share of 60th sandwiched by a T2 and T5 at the Dow Championship teams event.
Making her debut here last year, Kim’s noted straight driving and GIR percentage are the perfect fit for the course on the banks of Lake Geneva, with her short game the most important aspect of the game to avoid big numbers that can derail hopes here.
Making plenty of birdies and eagles so far in 2024, as well as a hole-in-one, Kim’s honesty about the state of her game and Tour life recently suggests she is on a good path to a successful second half of the year.
LYDIA KO
World ranking: 19
Age: 27
Professional wins: 28
Best finish at the Evian Championship: Win (2015)
The lowdown: It is almost 10 years since Ko won this title during her run to world No.1, yet the Kiwi remains a contender on the LPGA Tour, and especially at the majors where her renowned short game is of high value.
A mid-field finish at Sahalee ended a run of missed cuts, while playing a part in a 62 and a 63 at the Dow Championship bodes well for the state of her game.
Winning the first event of the year and being runner-up at the next shows what Ko is capable of, particularly at courses that a familiar and suit her eye as well as this one.
STEPH KYRIACOU
World ranking: 100
Age: 23
Professional wins: Two
Best finish at the Evian Championship: T16 (2022)
The lowdown: Kyriacou has improved each year across her three starts at The Evian, where she finished in the top-20 last year and has enjoyed multiple moments sitting higher on the leaderboard.
Heading into the weekend at the KPMG as the leading Aussie, Kyriacou will have learnt plenty from a weekend where things didn’t continue to go her way, while her ball striking and putting have steadily improved of late.
Keeping the ball in play, and scorable positions, off the tee is vital this week, and the Sydneysider is very adept in this department.
MINJEE LEE
World ranking: 11
Age: 28
Professional wins: 13
Best finish at the Evian Championship: Won (2021)
The lowdown: Claiming her first major win here three years ago, Minjee will no doubt be happy to be returning to France before she comes back again for a medal tilt alongside Hannah Green at the Olympics.
Only missing the cut at Evian once, and with five top-20s, it is clear the course suits the West Aussie and her world-renowned ball striking.
Bouncing back from a tough Sunday at the US Women’s Open with a share of 24th at Sahalee, where she was extremely consistent, it will be the putter that determines Lee’s chances of lifting the trophy here for a second time this week.
HIRA NAVEED
World ranking: 107
Age: 26
Professional wins: One
Best finish at the Evian Championship: Debut
The lowdown: Another major debut for Naveed this week, two top-20s in her last three starts surely boosting her confidence as the West Australian continues to get used to life on the biggest stage in the women’s game.
Chasing a first made cut at the biggest events, Naveed is another to gain valuable experience despite not playing the weekend at the KPMG, while her putter continues to be the standout performer in her bag week in, week out.
GABI RUFFELS
World ranking: 40
Age: 24
Professional wins: Three
Best finish at the Evian Championship: Debut
The lowdown: The final piece of the puzzle for Ruffels in terms of major starts occurs this week, however, the now LPGA regular will be far more concerned with challenging for the title than simply teeing it up.
Making the cut at all three majors so far this year, the Victorian will know she only needs one or two things to go her way to lift from the middle of the pack where she has finished at the big events this year.
Missing the cut at the low scoring teams event last start, Ruffels has owned one of the hottest putters on Tour this year, and is a quality ball striker who has proven time and again she is built for the major stage.
Photos: Getty Images.
