2014 Evian Championship Preview: Leaderboard
MINJEE LEE has chucked in her role as the world’s No.1 ranked amateur golfer and will tee it up as a professional for the first time this week at the LPGA’s final major of 2014.
Lee, 18, completed a successful amateur career at last week’s Women’s World Amateur Team Championship, where she shot 64-65 in the final two rounds to lead Team Australia to victory.
She will join Karrie Webb and five other Aussie women golfers this week at Evian Championship being played at the picturesque Evian Resort Golf Club in Evian-les-Bains in France.
The other Aussies taking part are Katherine Kirk, Lindsey Wright, Sarah Jane Smith, Sarah Kemp and Nikki Campbell.
Lee has had a rapid rise to prominence since her performance at the Australian Women’s Open earlier this year in Melbourne and is estimated to have forgone some $200,000 in winnings to maintain her amateur status in 2014.
The West Australian has signed on with management group IMG and will be definitely one to watch in coming years.
“As my professional career begins, I am very happy to have the support of my team at IMG,” Lee said this week. “It is a thrill for me to begin this stage of my career at the Evian and I look forward to the journey ahead with the guidance of IMG.”
Webb was feeling primed for a good performance at one of her favourite events. “I look forward to this event every year, it is one of my favourite tournaments and places to visit, the views from the golf course are spectacular, ” the seven time Major winner said.
The Evian Championship, is the fifth and final major on the LPGA schedule for 2014. 120 players, including 19 of the top 20 players from the Rolex Women’s World Golf Rankings, will be vying for their share of the US$3.25 million purse.
The defending champion is Norway’s Suzann Pettersen, who last year held off New Zealand’s Lydia Ko coming down the stretch.
TV Times
Live coverage on Fox Sports beginning Thursday 10.30pm
Evian Championship Leaderboard
Evian Championship Leaderboard