Latest news with #AyakaFurue
Yahoo
08-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
LPGA Tour Enters Pivotal Three-Week European Stretch
LPGA Tour Enters Pivotal Three-Week European Stretch originally appeared on Athlon Sports. The LPGA Tour embarks on one of its most demanding three-week stretches of the season this week with two major championships and the Scottish Open sandwiched in between, rounding out the month. Advertisement The gauntlet begins Thursday at Evian Resort Golf Club in France, where the world's best female golfers will compete for the Amundi Evian Championship, the season's fourth major. The following week, players cross the English Channel to Scotland for the ISPS Handa Women's Scottish Open at Dundonald Links before concluding the marathon at Royal Porthcawl Golf Club in Wales for the AIG Women's Open, the fifth and final major of 2025. This European swing is about much more than just hopping among countries. With $19 million in prize money up for grabs and two majors on the line, the next three weeks could completely shake up the season's biggest storylines and crown this year's most important champions. The Evian Championship kicks things off, bringing an $8 million purse and $1.2 million winner's check to the stunning course overlooking Lake Geneva. Defending champion Ayaka Furue heads back to the place where she claimed her first major last July, closing with a 65 to edge Stephanie Kyriacou by one shot. The Evian Championship has been through quite a journey since joining the majors in 2013. It started as a September finale before moving to July in 2019, and the course got a major makeover with an $8 million renovation in 2012-13. Advertisement Next up is the Scottish Open, the middle chapter of this European adventure. Dundonald Links hosts for the fourth time since 2017, offering $2 million in prize money with $300,000 going to the winner. More importantly, it gives players a crucial chance to get comfortable with links golf before the final major. Lauren Coughlin captured last year's Scottish Open title at Dundonald, earning her first LPGA victory with a four-stroke win over Esther Henseleit. The American's breakthrough came during a season where she also claimed her first major at the KPMG Women's PGA Championship. The crescendo arrives at Royal Porthcawl, which will host the AIG Women's Open for the first time. The Welsh venue has a distinguished history, having staged the Senior Open Championship three times and The Amateur Championship on seven occasions. The club received royal designation from King Edward VII in 1909 and has long been considered one of Britain's finest coastal courses. Royal Porthcawl's debut as a Women's Open host marks a big moment for the championship, which has been steadily adding new venues beyond the traditional Open Championship rotation. The Welsh course can stretch out to as much as 7,137 yards and plays to a par-72. Coastal winds and firm conditions will test every part of the players' games. Advertisement Last year's champion, Lydia Ko, who has one win so far this season, along with two other top 10 finishes, looks to repeat and capture the $1.35 million winner's share of the $9 million total purse. This season has seen Jeeno Thitikul headline through the midway point. She has one win and seven top-10s in 12 starts. Thitikul leads the Race to the CME Globe with a 206-point lead over Minjee Lee and a 407-point lead over Rio Takeda in the third spot. Nelly Korda, who retains her place as the No. 1 player in the world, has yet to win an event this season. In 10 starts, she has four top-10s and, despite being winless in 2025, always enters events as a favorite. Nelly sits in the seventh spot in the Race to the CME Globe, currently 578 points back of Thitikul. Advertisement The European stretch also gives international players a chance to shine closer to home. England's Charley Hull and Georgia Hall will have plenty of support at Royal Porthcawl, while France's Celine Boutier — who swept both the Evian Championship and Scottish Open in 2023 — knows exactly what it takes to succeed in this environment. As the LPGA Tour heads into this defining stretch, one thing is certain: The next three weeks will deliver drama and surprises, and will likely determine who emerges as the tour's biggest stars heading into the season's final months. Related: A True American Story: LPGA Celebrates 75 Years Related: World's No. 1 LPGA Golfer Sends Clear Message Ahead of Final Round of ShopRite Classic This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jul 6, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
07-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
How to watch the 2025 Amundi Evian Championship, the LPGA's fourth major of the season
It's major No. 4 of five this season when the LPGA's best compete in the Amundi Evian Championship. The event, which has held major status since 2013, will again be contested at Evian Resort Golf Club in Evian-les-Bains, France. The AIG Women's Open, in three weeks, will wrap up the tour's major season. Advertisement Ayaka Furue won last year's Amundi Evian for her first major title, playing her final five holes in 5 under par. She earned $1.2 million from the $8 million purse. Here's how you can watch this week's championship (all times EDT; stream links added when available). Thursday, July 10 6-11AM: Golf Channel/NBC Sports App 11AM-Noon: NBC Sports App Friday, July 11 6-11AM: Golf Channel/NBC Sports App 11AM-Noon: NBC Sports App Saturday, July 12 4-10AM: Golf Channel/NBC Sports App Sunday, July 13
NBC Sports
07-07-2025
- Sport
- NBC Sports
How to watch the 2025 Amundi Evian Championship, the LPGA's fourth major of the season
Watch as Ayaka Furue collects three birdies and an eagle on the final stretch in Round 4 to win the 2024 Amundi Evian Championship, capturing her first major title in the process. It's major No. 4 of five this season when the LPGA's best compete in the Amundi Evian Championship. The event, which has held major status since 2013, will again be contested at Evian Resort Golf Club in Evian-les-Bains, France. The AIG Women's Open, in three weeks, will wrap up the tour's major season. Ayaka Furue won last year's Amundi Evian for her first major title, playing her final five holes in 5 under par. She earned $1.2 million from the $8 million purse. Here's how you can watch this week's championship (all times EDT; stream links added when available). Thursday, July 10 6-11AM: Golf Channel/NBC Sports App 11AM-Noon: NBC Sports App Friday, July 11 Saturday, July 12 4-10AM: Golf Channel/NBC Sports App Sunday, July 13
Yahoo
06-03-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Three tied after opening round of Blue Bay LPGA in China
SANYA, China — Ayaka Furue, A Lim Kim and Auston Kim were atop the leaderboard at the LPGA's Blue Bay tournament with opening round scores of 4-under 68 on Thursday. Jeeno Thitikul, the world No. 2, was a shot back with seven other players on China's southern island of Hainan. In a very crowded field on the first day, 12 more players were just two shots off the pace after rounds of 70. No. 4-ranked Ruoning Yin carded a par 72 in front of her home fans. Defending champion Bailey Tardy shot a 3-over 75 and was seven shots off the lead.
NBC Sports
06-03-2025
- Sport
- NBC Sports
Three tied after opening round of Blue Bay LPGA in China
SANYA, China — Ayaka Furue, A Lim Kim and Auston Kim were atop the leaderboard at the LPGA's Blue Bay tournament with opening round scores of 4-under 68 on Thursday. Jeeno Thitikul, the world No. 2, was a shot back with seven other players on China's southern island of Hainan. In a very crowded field on the first day, 12 more players were just two shots off the pace after rounds of 70. No. 4-ranked Ruoning Yin carded a par 72 in front of her home fans. Defending champion Bailey Tardy shot a 3-over 75 and was seven shots off the lead.
