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Grace Kim Triumphs at Evian Golf Championship: Australian Star Clinches First Major Victory in France

by | Jul 12, 2025 | Sports

On July 13, 2025, at the stunning Evian Resort Golf Club in Évian‑les‑Bains, France, Australian golfer Grace Kim, aged 24, soared to the pinnacle of her career by capturing her first major championship title at the Amundi Evian Championship. In a display of grit and brilliance, Kim emerged victorious in a dramatic playoff against Thailand’s world No. 2, Jeeno Thitikul, delivering a finish spectators will remember for years to come.

Final Day Drama & Playoff Highlights

  • Over four rounds (10–13 July 2025), Kim carded a total of 270 (–14), finishing tied atop the leaderboard with Thitikul

  • Trailing by three shots with four holes to play, Kim executed a birdie–birdie–par–eagle run down the stretch to force the playoff

  • The playoff unfolded on the iconic 18th hole:

    • Playoff Hole 1: Kim’s drive ran into the water hazard, but she chipped in for birdie, matching Thitikul’s score and extending the playoff

    • Playoff Hole 2: With nerves of steel, Kim sank an eagle putt to seal her victory, while Thitikul was unable to match

This feat marked Kim’s second LPGA Tour win—her first came at the 2023 LOTTE Championship in Hawaii—and her first major championship triumph.

Historic Significance & Australian Legacy

  • Grace Kim joins the elite ranks of Australian women’s golf champions, becoming the fifth Australian to capture a major, alongside Minjee Lee, Karrie Webb, Jan Stephenson, and Hannah Green

  • This victory reinforces Australia’s prominent presence on the global stage, following Minjee Lee’s win at the 2025 PGA Championship in Frisco, Texas, just a few weeks earlier

  • The Evian victory also propelled Kim up the Rolex ANNIKA Major Award standings, earning her 60 points and elevating her into the current top three overall.

Event Details & Broader Tour Context

  • Event: 2025 Amundi Évian Championship (4th major of the LPGA season)

  • Location: Évian Resort Golf Club, Évian‑les‑Bains, Haute‑Savoie, France

  • Purse: US $8 million, with Kim earning a US $1.2 million winner’s share

  • Course: Par 71, 6504 yards

  • Tour Context: This was one of the 13 different major winners in the 2025 LPGA season, underscoring extraordinary depth and competitive diversity.

What This Means for Stakeholders

For investors, family offices, and stakeholders in private equity and venture capital with golf portfolios, Kim’s breakthrough signals strong growth potential in global women’s sports sponsorship. Her rise taps into expanding visibility and commercial development in Australia and Asia-Pacific regions.

For entrepreneurs and legal teams navigating professional sports events, Kim’s achievement underscores the importance of robust athlete representation, global branding, and media rights aligned with breakthrough performances.

Grace Kim’s Evian success is more than a sporting milestone—it’s a global business opportunity. Her dramatic playoff win in the French Alps not only secures her place in golf history, but also opens doors for powerful partnerships in the evolving world of women’s sport.

Photo: © LPGA.

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