7 Players to Watch at The 2023 Evian Championship

Following the 151st Open at Hoylake, you could be suffering from major golf withdrawal symptoms, but fortunately the women's game can offer an instant tonic for that ailment courtesy of this week's Evian Championship.

It's an exciting stretch on the schedule. It was little over a month ago that China's Yin Ruoning claimed the PGA Championship at Baltusrol, and only three weeks have elapsed since Allisen Corpuz imperiously won the US Open at Pebble Beach. Once the dust settles on this fourth major of the season on the French-Swiss border, it's the Women's Scottish Open at Dundonald Links followed by the AIG Women's Open at Walton Heath.

Those highlights await, but for now the focus of the world's best is on wrestling the Evian title from the grasp of defending champion Brooke Henderson. 

With Lilia Vu's April triumph at the new-look Chevron Championship raising the curtain on the major campaign for 2023, we have already seen a trio of first-time winners this year. 

That trend may well continue this week in the shadow of Lake Geneva as we pick out seven players to watch:

Rose Zhang

The 20-year-old has made a blistering start to her professional career, winning in her pro debut on the LPGA in June before featuring predominately in both the PGA and US Open. There is an undeniable sense of inevitability with the American's career trajectory and an early crowning achievement may well come at the Evian where she has made two previous appearances when an amateur.

Linn Grant

The Swede enjoyed the most spectacular of years in 2022, most notably making history at the Scandinavian Mixed. She has finally made a transition across the Atlantic and didn't take long to etch her name on the LPGA Tour by winning the Dana Open a fortnight back in Ohio. The 24-year-old finished in a tie for eighth in this event 12 months ago.

Charley Hull

(Image Credit: Kevin Diss Photography)

It was Allisen Corpuz who seized the glory at Pebble, but it was Charley Hull who provided the excitement with a captivating Sunday charge on the Monterey Peninsula. Now 27, the English star has been successfully managing her recently diagnosed attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and a maiden major victory could well come at the venue where she finished third in 2022.

Brooke Henderson

Much scrutiny is being placed on those who are yet to win a major, but we shouldn't overlook the defending champion from Canada. Henderson has endured a fairly miserable spell that has included two missed cuts in a row and no top ten finishes since her January triumph at the Tournament of Champions. But the 25-year-old is a player for the grandest stages.

Leona Maguire

Now a two-time winner on the LPGA Tour, the Irishwoman was in position to break her major duck at the PGA before a disappointing final round, but more opportunities will surely come quickly. The 28-year-old finished in a tie for sixth at the Evian in 2021 and was the low amateur back in 2015.

Anna Nordqvist

Set for an eighth Solheim Cup appearance in September, the Swede won here six years ago in an edition that was reduced to 54 holes due to inclement weather. The 2021 Women's Open champion finished in third place at the PGA Championship last month, underlining that her major credentials are impossible to push aside.

In Gee Chun

Another former champion and one of the most underrated players in women's golf. The 28-year-old has four LPGA Tour titles to her name - but three of those are major championships. She's also twice a runner-up in the biggest events. That record is somewhat reminiscent of Brooks Koepka and makes her a potential contender once again at the Evian.