Celine Boutier (Montrouge, France – a few miles from Paris) has played in two Evian Championships in her home country of France. This week, she has another opportunity to stamp a ticket home to battle in a major championship. The PHC Classic at Brown Deer Park is the U.S. Qualifier for The Evian Championship this year.
“I would love to go back and play Evian if I get the opportunity,” said Boutier, while walking down the first fairway during a practice round at Brown Deer Park. “Anytime you get a chance to play in a major and compete against the best in the world in France, you have to go. I would be really excited.”
Boutier played in The Evian Championship as an amateur in 2014 and 2015. In 2014, she made the cut and finished T29. She would later ascend to the No. 1 amateur in the world.
“I feel like as a French player in Evian, there is a lot of added pressure,” said Boutier, who recalled big crowds on the weekend when she made the cut. “I remember it being such a good tournament, the organizers are great and the course is pretty unique by the lake.”
Boutier first got invited to play the week after the World Amateur Championships in Japan. When she arrived in France – from Japan – she got to the tee to play a practice round and there stood Suzann Pettersen, a 15-time winner on the LPGA.
“She was the defending champion that year so that was really awesome to get to play with her,” said Boutier. “I always wanted to go to the tournament growing up because it was such a big deal in France, but there was also a French National tournament during the same time.”
Boutier won the British Ladies Amateur Championship in 2015 to get invited to The Evian Championship that same year. She missed the cut.
Boutier has one win on the Epson Tour as a rookie and ranks fourth on the Volvik Race for the Card money list. She is in prime position to earn an LPGA card for 2018.
Meanwhile, Marion Ricordeau (Laon – northern part of France), is looking to qualify for her first Evian Championship.
“I haven’t played great this year, but knowing this week has something bigger attached, it does bring something more,” said Ricordeau, who was playing in the practice round group in front of Boutier. “Evian is the only major we have in France and I’d be excited to play it because I’ve never been there for a real big competition.”
Ricordeau has only played social golf at Evian Resort Golf Club as a tourist.
“I hope I can qualify because Evian is something we (French people) can be proud of,” said Ricordeau, who ranks 38th on the Epson Tour’s money list. “Having a major in our country is a big deal.”
Ricordeau said while there is an Ladies European Tour event in France and a couple LET Access events in the country, The Evian Championship is the big tournament to promote women’s golf in a country where it doesn’t get a ton of press.
“I wish there were more French girls playing in the event, but it’s a major in France and it’s on television so that’s good,” said Ricordeau. “We are not a country with big golfers yet, I hope it will come one day. The Evian Championship is a very big deal in France.”
Two players will earn spots this week in Milwaukee. It would be quite the story if Boutier and Ricordeau earned the spots.
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