Kim was 4th in her only previous start at the Evian in 2012 and did win earlier in the season before a series of solid if unspectacular efforts of late.
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South Korea’s Inbee Park can end any lingering debate in the best way possible with victory in the Evian Championship this week. While the LPGA has made it clear that a Grand Slam is classified as winning four majors, opponents have argued that this means someone can win a Grand Slam without a US Open. Still, that’s 15 wins and five majors, more than a great career.
In addition to her dance moves, the pro has also demonstrated her vocal talents, singing on a YouTube clip with fellow LPGA star Danielle Kang past year. The American has 11 top-10 finishes this season, including a quartet of runner-up performances, and she finished second at Evian in both 2011 and 2012.
“I don’t know, maybe I am just comfortable, when I play the major championships”, she said.
Chun In-gee, 21 and still not an LPGA member, captured the U.S. Women’s Open in July and will look to add another major to her credit before joining the tour full-time next year.
That was regarded in some quarters as completing the career grand slam, although the Evian Championship only became the fifth major in 2013, a year after Park won what was then called the Evian Masters.
But Park won’t have it all her own way.
Park can also complete a major hat-trick in the season, having also won the Women’s PGA Championship as well as the British Open. She tied for 10th at last year’s event, nine strokes behind the victor, South Korean Kim Hyo-joo. So far, Brittany Lincicome is the only one of the 24 players who have won a major this season.
Stacy Lewis, a two-time major champion, leads America’s charge and is ranked third in the world, having had two spells in the top spot. Since the LPGA Tour started co-sanctioning the event with the Ladies European Tour in 2000, no player has won back-to-back at Evian.
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The 18-year-old can usurp American Morgan Pressel, who tasted victory at age 18 years and 313 days in 2007, if successful at the $US3.25 million ($NZ5.2 million) tournament.
