Rolex and the 2026 Amundi Evian Championship: Women’s Major Golf in Europe

Updated July 11, 2026, after the completion of Round 2

Rolex is the Official Timepiece and a Major Partner of the 2026 Amundi Evian Championship, the only women’s golf major held in continental Europe. The tournament is being played from July 9 through July 12 at Evian Resort Golf Club in France, where 132 players are competing for a $9.1 million purse and one of the event’s most notable golf watches, an engraved Rolex Datejust 31 presented to the champion.

England’s Lottie Woad carries the lead into the weekend at 11 under par after shooting a 64 in Round 2. Aki Iwai is one stroke behind at 10 under, while Hae Ran Ryu and Mao Saigo are tied at 8 under.

Key Takeaways

The 2026 Amundi Evian Championship runs from July 9 through July 12.

It is the only women’s major championship held in continental Europe.

Rolex has served as the tournament’s Official Timepiece and a Major Partner since 2000.

A field of 132 players is competing for a record $9.1 million purse.

The winner will receive $1.4 million and a specially engraved Rolex Datejust 31.

Lottie Woad leads after Round 2, followed by Aki Iwai, Hae Ran Ryu and Mao Saigo.

World No. 1 Nelly Korda missed the cut by one stroke.

The Amundi Evian Championship brings together several parts of Rolex’s long relationship with golf. It connects the brand with an established major, an international field, several Rolex Testimonees and a presentation watch created specifically for the champion. Let’s also not forget about the Rolex golf ambassadors who may be competing in the tournament.

2026 Amundi Evian Championship at a Glance

The 32nd edition of the Amundi Evian Championship is being contested over 72 holes on the Champions Course at Evian Resort Golf Club. Following the first two rounds, the top 65 players and ties advanced to the weekend.

Tournament detail | 2026 information
Dates | July 9 through July 12, 2026
Location | Évian les Bains, France
Course | The Champions Course at Evian Resort Golf Club
Edition | 32nd
Field | 132 players
Format | 72 hole stroke play
Cut | Top 65 players and ties after Round 2
Total purse | $9.1 million
Winner’s prize | $1.4 million
Defending champion | Grace Kim
Rolex’s role | Official Timepiece and Major Partner
Winner’s Rolex | Engraved Oyster Perpetual Datejust 31

The increased prize fund is one of the central developments surrounding the 2026 tournament. The purse has reached $9.1 million, while the champion’s share has risen to $1.4 million.

What Is Happening at the 2026 Amundi Evian Championship?

The tournament reached its halfway point on July 10 with Lottie Woad at the top of the leaderboard. Woad followed an opening round of 67 with a 64, moving to 11 under par and taking a one stroke lead over first round leader Aki Iwai.

Hae Ran Ryu and Mao Saigo are three strokes behind Woad at 8 under. Several other leading players remain within reach heading into the weekend, including Jeeno Thitikul, Charley Hull, Miyu Yamashita and Nastasia Nadaud.

Leaderboard After Round 2

Position | Player | Score
1 | Lottie Woad | 11 under
2 | Aki Iwai | 10 under
T3 | Hae Ran Ryu | 8 under
T3 | Mao Saigo | 8 under

Woad’s position is especially notable because she finished close to the lead at Evian in 2025 while she was still an amateur. She returned in 2026 as an established professional and moved ahead with eight birdies and one bogey during her second round.

Iwai had held a five stroke advantage at one point before giving back part of the lead. The gap between the leading four players remains small enough that control, putting and course management could decide the championship during the final two rounds.

What Is Rolex’s Role at the Amundi Evian Championship?

Rolex’s connection with the tournament involves official timekeeping, event support, player relationships and the presentation of a commemorative watch. The company is a Major Partner rather than the tournament’s title partner, a role held by Amundi.

Rolex has also developed close ties with many of the golfers who compete at Evian. Several former champions and current contenders are members of the Rolex family.

Official Timepiece and Major Partner Since 2000

Rolex has served as the Official Timepiece and a Major Partner of the Amundi Evian Championship since 2000. The relationship began before the event received major status in 2013 and has continued as the tournament has grown in international importance.

The brand’s presence is visible through official clocks, course branding and its support of leading golfers. This follows a wider approach Rolex has taken across golf, where it works with major championships, professional tours, team events and individual players through the Rolex sports ambassador program.

The Rolex Datejust 31 Presented to the Champion

The winner of the 2026 Amundi Evian Championship will receive a specially engraved Rolex Datejust 31 from Rolex. The watch is presented in addition to the trophy and $1.4 million winner’s prize.

Rolex has not identified the exact reference, dial or metal configuration in its current tournament information. What has been confirmed is the model family and 31 mm case size.

From a watch perspective, the Datejust 31 is a fitting presentation model. The Datejust is one of Rolex’s longest running collections, and its balance of practical features and formal design works well for an award intended to mark a major career achievement.

The engraving also separates the championship watch from a standard retail example. Its importance is tied not only to the model or materials, but to the specific tournament victory it records.

Rolex Testimonees Competing at Evian

The 2026 field includes Rolex Testimonees from different stages of their careers. Some have already won at Evian, while others are still pursuing their first major championship.

That mix gives Rolex a connection to both the history of the tournament and its current competition. It also reflects the international nature of the field, which brings together golfers from Europe, Asia, North America, Australia and other parts of the world.

Jeeno Thitikul Returns After Her 2025 Playoff Finish

Jeeno Thitikul entered the tournament with one of the clearest unfinished storylines. She finished runner up to Grace Kim in the 2025 playoff and returned to Evian seeking her first major title.

Evian also has a longer personal connection for Thitikul. She made her first major cut at the tournament when she was 14. Now 23, she has already spent 40 weeks at the top of the Rolex Women’s World Golf Rankings.

Thitikul remains part of the weekend field after two rounds. Although she has ground to make up on Woad, her recent history at the course and her experience near the top of the world rankings make her an important player to follow.

Her presence also connects the current championship with the closing stages of the 2025 event. A victory would turn last year’s narrow loss into the first major title of her career.

Lydia Ko, Anna Nordqvist and Brooke Henderson

Lydia Ko returns as one of the most accomplished Rolex Testimonees in the field. She won the Amundi Evian Championship in 2015 at age 18, becoming the youngest women’s major champion at the time.

Ko also holds a leadership role among many of the younger players on tour. Thitikul has described her as an important influence, showing how Rolex’s player relationships extend across different generations of women’s golf.

Anna Nordqvist and Brooke Henderson are two other Rolex Testimonees with victories at Evian. Nordqvist won in 2017, while Henderson claimed the title in 2022.

Ruoning Yin and Rose Zhang are also among the Rolex golfers highlighted around the 2026 tournament. Each faces the same challenge presented by the course’s elevation changes, uneven lies and demanding approach shots.

Why Is the Amundi Evian Championship a Women’s Major?

The Amundi Evian Championship is one of the five major championships in women’s professional golf. It was first played in 1994 and received major championship status in 2013.

It is also the only women’s golf major played in continental Europe. That distinction gives the tournament an important place on the international schedule and provides a major championship stage outside the United States and United Kingdom.

The event is jointly connected with the LPGA Tour and Ladies European Tour, bringing together leading players from both sides of the Atlantic and beyond. The field is selected through rankings, tour performance, major results and tournament invitations.

In 2026, the championship is the fourth of five women’s majors during the season. That position adds pressure for players still seeking a major victory or trying to strengthen their standing before the final major.

Evian Resort Golf Club Rewards Control and Precision

The Champions Course at Evian Resort Golf Club is set above Lake Geneva near the French Alps. Its setting may draw much of the attention, but its slopes and elevation changes have a direct effect on how the course plays.

Players often face uneven stances, changing yardages and approach shots that require careful distance control. A well struck drive does not always produce a level lie, and shots into the greens can react differently depending on their angle and height.

The course places a strong value on accuracy rather than power alone. Golfers must control the ball from the tee, judge the movement of the land and avoid leaving themselves difficult recovery shots around the greens.

Those demands help explain why the leaderboard can change quickly. A player who looks comfortable for several holes can lose ground through one poor approach, a difficult stance or a missed putt on a sloping green. Rolex’s focus on precision is closely aligned with the skills needed to succeed at Evian.

Grace Kim Returns After a Memorable Major Victory

Grace Kim arrived at the 2026 tournament as the defending champion following one of the most dramatic finishes in recent major golf. In 2025, she made an eagle on the final hole of regulation to force a playoff with Jeeno Thitikul.

Kim then hit her second shot into the water on the first playoff hole. After taking a penalty drop, she chipped across the pond and into the hole for birdie. She extended the playoff and secured the title on the following extra hole.

A plaque has since been placed near the location of Kim’s playoff chip on the 18th hole. It gives visitors a permanent marker for the shot and shows how quickly one tournament moment can become part of a course’s identity.

Kim’s return also added another layer to the 2026 competition. She came back not only as a major champion, but as the player every golfer in the field was attempting to succeed.

2026 Amundi Evian Championship Prize Money

The total prize fund for the 2026 Amundi Evian Championship is $9.1 million. The winner will receive $1.4 million, which represents slightly more than 15 percent of the full purse.

The purse is the largest in the event’s history. It places the tournament among the most valuable events in women’s golf and reflects its position as a major championship with an international field.

Prize detail | Amount
Total tournament purse | $9.1 million
Winner’s share | $1.4 million
Additional winner’s award | Engraved Rolex Datejust 31

Prize money is only one part of the value of a major victory. The champion also receives ranking points, career recognition and a place among the golfers who have won the only women’s major held in continental Europe.

The engraved Rolex adds a physical record of that achievement. Prize money may become part of a golfer’s season totals, but a presentation watch can remain connected to that specific day and place for the rest of the player’s career.

How to Watch the 2026 Amundi Evian Championship

In the United States, the 2026 Amundi Evian Championship is being shown on Golf Channel. Early round coverage was also available through the Golf Channel mobile platform.

Coverage begins early in the United States because the tournament is played in France. Weekend broadcasts start at 4 a.m. Eastern Time and 1 a.m. Pacific Time.

Round | Date | United States coverage
Round 1 | Thursday, July 9 | 6 a.m. to 11 a.m. ET on Golf Channel, followed by 11 a.m. to noon on mobile
Round 2 | Friday, July 10 | 6 a.m. to 11 a.m. ET on Golf Channel, followed by 11 a.m. to noon on mobile
Round 3 | Saturday, July 11 | 4 a.m. to 10 a.m. ET on Golf Channel
Final round | Sunday, July 12 | 4 a.m. to 10 a.m. ET on Golf Channel

Broadcast times and platforms can vary outside the United States. Viewers in other countries should confirm local television and streaming listings before the start of each round.

The final round is scheduled to end on the morning of July 12 for viewers in the United States. That is when the champion will receive the trophy, prize money and engraved Rolex Datejust 31.

Storylines to Follow During the Final Rounds

The leaderboard remains close enough for several players to challenge Woad during the weekend. The course also has enough risk that the tournament could change through a short run of birdies or one difficult stretch.

The following are the main storylines heading into Round 3:

Can Lottie Woad convert the halfway lead? Woad enters the weekend at 11 under and holds her first major championship lead as a professional.

Will Aki Iwai regain first place? Iwai led after Round 1 and remains only one stroke behind.

Can Hae Ran Ryu continue her major form? Ryu is three strokes off the lead after winning the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship earlier in the season.

Will Jeeno Thitikul complete unfinished business? Thitikul returned after losing the 2025 playoff and is still seeking her first major.

Which player will handle the course best under pressure? The final rounds place even more value on approach control, recovery play and putting.

One major name who will not be part of the weekend is Nelly Korda. The world No. 1 opened with a 74 and improved with a 69 in Round 2, but her total of 1 over left her one stroke outside the cut. It ended a run of 34 consecutive cuts made in official LPGA Tour events.

Korda’s exit changes the shape of the weekend without making the result any easier to predict. Woad and Iwai have the clearest advantage, but several major champions and highly ranked contenders remain within striking distance.

Rolex, Evian and the Next Chapter of Women’s Major Golf

The 2026 Amundi Evian Championship brings together major championship golf, an international field and one of Rolex’s longest current relationships in the women’s game. Since becoming the tournament’s Official Timepiece and a Major Partner in 2000, Rolex has remained connected to the event as it gained major status and expanded its global reach.

That relationship is represented by more than clocks and course signs. It can be seen in the Rolex Testimonees competing for the title, the past champions returning to Evian and the engraved Datejust 31 waiting for the winner.

The final two rounds will decide whether Lottie Woad protects her lead or another contender moves ahead. Whoever wins will join a select group of major champions and leave Evian with a trophy, $1.4 million and a Rolex created to commemorate the achievement.

For golfers and watch collectors, that final presentation is where the two sides of the event come together. The result is recorded in tournament history, while the watch serves as a lasting marker of the precision and performance required to win.