Poom, making his debut at TPC Southwind in Memphis, carded three birdies on the 11th hole, 16th hole and first hole against a lone bogey, to end the first day in a share of 18th place alongside current FedExCup No 1 Brooks Koepka, Justin Thomas, Phil Mickelson and Fleetwood, runner-up at The Open Championship last weekend.

Immediately after his round, the 26-year-old Thai, a three-time winner on the Asian Tour and featuring in this week’s field after winning the BNI Indonesian Masters last December, approached Fleetwood for an autograph, telling the Englishman that he was a big fan. Fleetwood obliged with a signed glove. Baby-faced Poom, 26, is making only his second World Golf Championships start following a T24 at the WGC-HSBC Champions in China in 2017.

His 68 left him six shots behind first-round leader Jon Rahm of Spain, who carded a career low 62 to lead by three shots from a group of five golfers, including Japanese duo Hideki Matsuyama and Shugo Imahira. China’s No 1 Haotong Li endured a rollercoaster day en route to a 69 for T24, sprinkling his card with six birdies, three bogeys and one double bogey.

The 23-year-old started his round strongly with three opening birdies from six feet, 16 feet and 13 feet before boarding the bogey train where he dropped five shots over a five-hole stretch to turn in 37. However, the young Chinese, who is looking to safeguard his fifth position on the International Team standings for the Presidents Cup in December, bounced back on his inward nine with birdies on the 11th hole from 22 feet, 14th hole from nine feet and then sticking his tee shot close on the par 3 17th hole for his sixth birdie of the round.

He uncharacteristically missed the cut in his last two tournaments, including The Open Championship last week, but a commendable start in Memphis, known as the birthplace for blues, soul and rock ‘n roll, is poised to ensure Li enjoys a solid week and takes another step closer towards a debut appearance in the Presidents Cup. Korea’s Sung Kang, who won his first PGA TOUR title at the AT&T Byron Nelson in May, carded a 69 which included an eagle 3 on the par 5 16th hole. Chinese Taipei’s CT Pan, ranked sixth on the International Team standings for the Presidents Cup, opened with a 72 which featured three birdies against five bogeys.

This is the first time that Creamer, the 2005 Evian Masters champion, has held the lead following 18 holes since the 2017 LOTTE Championship.

“It’s been several years where I felt like just all in all good in my shoes kind of thing. That’s nice,” said Creamer. “It’s nice to kind of be back to that. But no pressure. Not putting myself in any place where I have to do something. I just want to have fun and play good golf.”

Four players are tied for second at -6: American Brittany Altomare and the Republic of Korea’s Mi Hyang Lee, Inbee Park and Jin Young Ko, who birdied the last four holes. Playing in the second-to-last group, Lee found trouble on the par-5 18th when she tried to lay up but came up short of tying Creamer.

“I made bogey the last hole, so feel a little not very happy, but still happy with 65, 6-under par with this golf course,” said Lee, a two-time LPGA winner. “My ball wasn’t good so I tried to lay up. Then the lay-up was too long, so then I hit it into the other rough, then lay up again, 4-under, and two-putt.”

One-time LPGA winner Moriya Jutanugarn and tour rookie Pajaree Anannarukarn followed four strokes behind for tied 11th.

Defending champion Angela Stanford opened with a 5-over 76 and is tied for 102nd.

ADJUSTED STARTING TIMES FOR FRIDAY SECOND ROUND 

With thunderstorms and potentially heavy rain forecasted for ‪Saturday afternoon and evening, tee times have been moved up for the second round by 30 minutes. The first tee time of the day will be ‪7 a.m. Tournament officials want to take every precaution possible to ‪finish the second round before the end of the day.

EVIAN PINK SUITS CREAMER JUST FINE

After a long stretch of injury and personal struggles, it looks like Paula Creamer’s year is finally turning around. The 32-year-old Californian came to the Evian Championship fresh off three consecutive top-20 finishes, the first time she notched that streak since early 2014. After her bogey-free 64 on Thursday put her in the lead at a major for the first time since she won the 2010 U.S. Women’s Open, the smile on her face was nearly as bright as the sun blazing overhead.

“I feel really just in control. I’m going to hit some shots that aren’t going to be perfect, but most the time I know where they come from,” said Creamer, who changed to an open putting stance in late June and also adopted AimPoint. “I haven’t honestly filmed my golf swing manage in probably three months. We’re just really working. We have three or four key things that I work on every day. I think we’ve got a really good system going on now with my team. I’m confident and playing good golf. When you’re in control, you kind of feel better about going into tournaments with tighter pins, things like that.”

Creamer first stepped foot on Evian Resort Golf Club as a 19-year-old LPGA Tour rookie and took the course by storm, earning an eight-stroke win over Lorena Ochoa and Michelle Wie. It’s definitely a loving relationship between Evian and Creamer, who earned her nickname Pink Panther thanks to her love for Evian’s signature rosy hue.

“You can’t get over the scenery. If you’re ever having a bad moment, you just look over to your right and you see the lake,” said Creamer. “But also all the pink. I mean, first time I came higher here I was just like, This place was meant for me. I love all the pink.”

LPGA Hall of Famer Inbee Park shot a first 6-under 65, her lowest opening round of The Evian Championship, and is tied for second, one stroke behind leader Paula Creamer. Park won the 2012 Evian Masters, becoming the last player to win before it became a major in 2013, and is one major short of completing a Super Grand Slam, awarded to players by winning five different LPGA majors.INBEE PARK DRAWS FROM EXPERIENCE TO MAKE HISTORY 

“Obviously starting the first day with seven birdies is always a great feeling,” said Park, who with a win would join Karrie Webb as the only LPGA players to complete a Super Grand Slam. “You can make a lot of bogeys out here, so you got to avoid that the next three days. I think that will be the strategy: try to avoid the bogeys.”

Evian-les-Bains is a particularly special place to Park. According to Park, her Evian victory in 2012 was when her golfing career took off. She earned seven more titles in 2012 and 2013, elevating her to World No. 1 on the Rolex Rankings in April 2013 for 59 consecutive weeks.

“This is my 13th year playing, so it’s just more than probably like 50 times I played on this golf course. I know this golf course really, really well. This golf course has been a great memory of me,” said the 19-time LPGA winner. “Winning the golf tournament in 2012 really got me started to be really, really well on my golfing career. It’s a special tournament for me in my heart, and I think maybe the positive attitude is just helping out.”

SOLHEIM CUP ON THE LINE FOR MEL REID

Mel Reid set the early pace during Thursday’s first round, taking advantage of the closing par-5 18th and ended her 6-under 66 with an eagle. The fiery Englishwoman has been playing with a hot hand of late, finishing in what she called a “huge” tie for third at the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship after enduring six missed cuts in her first nine starts of the 2019 LPGA season. After changing her home, her coach, her trainer and all of her equipment in the last 12 months, Reid is welcoming this new-found consistency in her game.

“Just frees you up. Freed up my whole year. Freed up next year,” said Reid of that big finish at KPMG. “I was talking the other day, when you’re on the bubble of 100 it sucks because you have to play every event, you’re under pressure every single round; whereas you have one good result out here and it frees you up completely. Managed to do it in a big event. I’ve been waiting for that for a long, long time. Been busting my ass for a while. Luckily results are showing.”

Now firmly in Reid’s sights? Earning a spot on the 2019 European Solheim Cup team. Reid is a three-time Team Europe veteran with a combined 4-6-2 record. Earning another opportunity to don the blue-and-yellow European uniform would mean the world to her and this first round in Evian has put her in prime position to move up the rankings before the team is named in two weeks following the Aberdeen Standard Investments Ladies Scottish Open.

“I can’t expect anything when you’re not in the team automatically, and hopefully I’m just knocking on the door a little bit and being a bit more of a headache than (Captain Catriona Matthew)’s already got,” said Reid. “We’ll see. I’m playing really, really good. I feel like I’m swinging it good. We’ll see. Just keep the momentum. This week is the most important week really.”

ROLEX WOMEN’S WORLD GOLF RANKINGS PROJECTIONS

Four players have a mathematical chance to overtake Rolex Rankings World No. 1 Sung Hyun Park based on their finish at The Evian Championship. NOTE: There may be additional possibilities with tie scenarios and separate projection scenarios would need to be run to check.

• Rolex Rankings No. 2 Jin Young Ko 
  • Win and have Sung Hyun Park finish solo third or worse
  • Solo second and have Sung Hyun Park finish solo 44th or worse and Lexi Thompson or Inbee Park do not win
• Rolex Rankings No. 3 Lexi Thompson
  • Win and have Sung Hyun Park finish solo third or worse
  • Solo 2nd and have Sung Hyun Park finish solo 57th or worse, Jin Young Ko finish solo third or worse and Inbee Park does not win
• Rolex Rankings No. 4 Minjee Lee
  • Must win and have Sung Hyun Park finish solo 59th or worse, and Jin Young Ko and Lexi Thompson finish third or worse
• Rolex Rankings No. 7 Inbee Park
  • Must win and have Sung Hyun Park finish solo fifth or worse

Top-Ranked American

Nelly Korda and Jessica Korda have an opportunity to pass Lexi Thompson in the Rolex Rankings to become the highest-ranked American.

• Rolex Rankings No. 10 Nelly Korda
  • Must win and have Lexi Thompson finish solo 4th or worse
• Rolex Rankings No. 15 Jessica Korda
  • Must win and have Lexi Thompson finish solo 15th or worse

PLAYER NOTES

Rolex Rankings No. 156 Paula Creamer (64)  

• Creamer’s first-round 64 is the lowest round in her 15 Evian appearances; her previous best was a 65 in the fourth round in 2006
• Her 64 is the second-lowest round of her 2019 LPGA Tour season, behind only a first-round 63 at the Walmart NW Arkansas Championship
• She hit eight of 13 fairways and 14 of 18 greens, with 25 putts
• Creamer is in her 15th season on the LPGA Tour; she has 10 career wins, including the 2010 U.S. Women’s Open and the 2005 Evian Masters, with her most recent win coming at the 2014 HSBC Women’s World Championship
• This is Creamer’s 14th event of the 2019 LPGA Tour season; her best finishes are a tie for sixth at last week’s Dow Great Lakes Bay Invitational (a team event partnered with Morgan Pressel) and a tie for eighth at the ShopRite LPGA Classic
• She is competing in her 15th Evian Championship; she won the 2005 event prior to it becoming a major, and has five other top-five finishes

Rolex Rankings No. 37 Mi Hyang Lee (65)  

• Lee’s first-round 65 is the lowest round in her seven Evian appearances; her previous best was a 66 in the second round in 2018 and the first round in 2015
• Her 65 is the lowest round of her 2019 LPGA Tour season; her previous best was a 66 in the fourth round of the Thornberry Creek LPGA Classic
• She hit nine of 13 fairways and 15 of 18 greens, with 27 putts
• Lee is in her eighth season on the LPGA Tour; she has victories at the 2014 Mizuno Classic and the 2017 Aberdeen Standard Investments Ladies Scottish Open
• This is Lee’s 18th event of the 2019 LPGA Tour season; her best finish is second at the ANA Inspiration
• She is competing in her seventh Evian Championship; she has three top-10 finishes, with a best finish of a tie for fourth in 2015

Rolex Rankings No. 41 Brittany Altomare (65)  

• Altomare’s first-round 65 is the lowest round in her four Evian appearances; her previous best was a 66 in the third round in 2017
• Her 65 ties the lowest round of her 2019 LPGA Tour season; she has shot three other 65s in 2019, most recently in the final round of the Marathon Classic presented by Dana
• She hit 12 of 13 fairways and 15 of 18 greens, with 27 putts
• Altomare is in her sixth season on the LPGA Tour; her best finish is second three times, including at the 2017 Evian Championship, where she lost in a playoff to Anna Nordqvist
• This is Altomare’s 17th event of the 2019 LPGA Tour season; her best finish is a tie for second at the Meijer LPGA Classic for Simply Give
• She is competing in her fourth Evian Championship; she tied for 44th in 2018, finished second in 2017 and missed the cut in 2016

Rolex Rankings No. 7 Inbee Park (65)  

• Park’s first-round 65 is the second-lowest round in her 10 Evian appearances; she shot a 64 in the second round en route to victory in 2012
• She hit 10 of 13 fairways and 15 of 18 greens, with 27 putts
• Park is in her 13th season on the LPGA Tour; she has 19 wins, including the 2012 Evian Masters, and seven major wins, most recently at the 2015 AIG Women’s British Open
• This is Park’s 12th event of the 2019 LPGA Tour season; her best finish is a tie for second at the Kia Classic
• She is competing in her 10th Evian Championship; she won the 2012 Evian Masters and has three other top-10 finishes, including a tie for eighth in 2018

Rolex Rankings No. 2 Jin Young Ko (65)  

• Ko’s first-round 65 is the lowest round in her four Evian appearances; her previous best was a 68 in the fourth round in 2018 and the first round in 2016
• She hit 12 of 13 fairways and 12 of 18 greens, with 23 putts
• Ko is in her second season on the LPGA Tour; she has four career victories, including the 2019 Bank of Hope Founders Cup and 2019 ANA Inspiration
• This is Ko’s 15th event of the 2019 LPGA Tour season; she won the 2019 Bank of Hope Founders Cup and 2019 ANA Inspiration and has five other top-10 finishes
• She is competing in her fourth Evian Championship; she tied for 26th in 2018, tied for 39th in 2016 and finished 28th in 2015

QUICK HITS

• Jodi Ewart Shadoff withdrew prior to Round 1 citing back injury; Sandra Gal was added to the field
• 25 players in the top-20 represents six different countries (USA, Republic of Korea, England, Thailand, China, France)

TOURNAMENT SCORING RECORDS*

18 holes: 61, Hyo Joo Kim, first round, 2014

36 holes: 129, In Gee Chun, 2016

54 holes: 194, In Gee Chun, 2016

72 holes: 263, In Gee Chun, 2016

*Since becoming an LPGA major championship in 2013

Following an expansion of the partnership in 2017, when AIA became the Club’s Global Principal Partner, the announcement in Shanghai will see the partnership extended to the end of the 2026/27 season. The AIA brand will continue to appear on the front of the Club’s Men’s, Women’s and Academy team’s shirts in all competitions.

The announcement in Shanghai is a significant highlight for AIA Group as it celebrates its Centennial in the city in which it was founded in 1919. AIA and Spurs will continue to work together by developing unique content with Spurs’ players, the manager, coaches, fitness professionals and nutritionists in support of AIA’s purpose-led brand promise of helping people to live Healthier, Longer, Better Lives.

The Club and AIA have seen great success in delivering our unique community coaching programme with more than 40,000 children and young people participating to date. With the extension of our partnership, we are delighted to bring the opportunity to develop skills and improve physical fitness to even more people across our 18 markets in the Asia-Pacific region through the programme.

Ng Keng Hooi, AIA Group Chief Executive and President, said, “The enormous popularity of the English Premier League and Spurs across our markets, coupled with the ongoing success of the Club on the field, which culminated in the UEFA Champions League Final appearance earlier this year, make this an ideal time to extend our partnership. As the Club’s Global Principal Partner, we will continue to create many opportunities for our customers, agents, employees and local communities to interact with Spurs players, coaching and support staff. We’ve already enjoyed a great deal of success together and I am very confident that both on and off the field there is much more to come”.

Tottenham Hotspur Chairman, Daniel Levy, said, “This renewed and extended partnership demonstrates the strength and success of our well-established relationship with AIA and underlines the positive impact we have been able to bring to AIA’s brand and business. We are proud to have the immense support of AIA at such a significant time in the Club’s history. We shall continue to collaborate to drive the Club’s and AIA’s growth in Asia and support AIA’s commitment to healthy living in its Centennial year and beyond”.

In attendance were ONE Flyweight Kickboxing World Champion Petchdam Petchyindee Academy, Smokin’ Jo Nattawut, ONE Atomweight Kickboxing and Muay Thai World Champion Stamp Fairtex, as well as Thai superstars Bangpleenoi Petchyindee Academy, Lerdsila Phuket Top Team, and Muangthai PK.Saenchaimuaythaigym.

Petchdam Petchyindee Academy, ONE Flyweight Kickboxing World Champion, stated: “I am excited to get back in the ring and prove myself again in ONE Super Series. Becoming ONE World Champion is one of the greatest achievements of my career and it is such an honor to represent Thailand on the biggest global stage of competition. My opponent is another tough one, who is also well-versed in the kickboxing style. I have to be at my best for this fight. But I am confident that my skill and power will carry me to victory. I’m training very hard for this fight and I want to give the fans a good show.”

Stamp Fairtex, ONE Atomweight Kickboxing and Muay Thai World Champion, stated: “I am ready to embark on this new chapter of my martial arts journey. When I first joined ONE Championship, I was already working very hard to compete in mixed martial arts. But when the opportunity to compete in both kickboxing and Muay Thai, as well as the chance to become a World Champion came by, I couldn’t pass it up. Now that I’ve achieved so much in those sports, I want more. I want the mixed martial arts World Title. That’s the goal.”

Jo Nattawut, ONE Athlete, stated: “I know my opponent is a legend in this sport, and I’ve already lost to him before. But I’ve made some key changes to my training and overall style. I’m not the same fighter I was a year ago when we first met. I’m stronger and faster now, and more well-prepared for our second meeting. This August, I’m going to shock the world once again and I’m going to take down this giant. I have my eye on the prize, and I’m going to do everything I can to beat [Giorgio] Petrosyan and reach the tournament finals.”

Bangpleenoi Petchyindee Academy, ONE Athlete, stated: “First of all, it is both an honor and a privilege to showcase my skills in front of all the Thai fans here in Bangkok. Competing against the best in the world here in my hometown is a very special moment for me. I do everything in my power to bring glory to my country and prove that Thai fighters are the most talented and hard-working athletes. I want to prove to myself and to all the fans that I am one of the best fighters in my weight class. Each time I step through those ropes, I carry the pride of Thailand with me.”

Lerdsila Phuket Top Team, ONE Athlete, stated: “I would like to thank ONE Championship for the opportunity to showcase my skills and abilities to millions of people around the world. Joining ONE Super Series, I knew I would be facing off against the best striking talents. It’s an honor to be counted amongst these amazing athletes. I’ve accomplished many things in my career thus far, but I know I still have a lot left to offer. Get ready for the best Lerdsila you’ve ever seen.”

Muangthai PK.Saenchaimuaythaigym, ONE Athlete, stated: “I’m working very hard in training to give the fans a good show. This camp has been incredible, and I feel like I’m in the best shape of my career. I have the speed and the power, and my confidence is in a good place. This August, I can’t wait to step right back in the ring again and perform in front of my friends and family in Bangkok.”

It is the first time that Thailand will be hosting the sport’s biggest event, which this year has drawn more than 4,000 participants from 30 countries.

Adm Chainarong Charoenrak, president of the Rowing and Canoeing Association of Thailand (RCAT), said the event would help bring the sport to the attention of Thai people, as well as help lift the country’s rowers to international standards.

“We can use the tournament as a training ground for our national rowers in every division – senior, open, junior (23, 18 and 16 years old),” he said, adding that the event would also help boost tourism and the local economy.

The event is being held at the Royal Navy Rowing Training Centre in Pattaya, from August 20-25.

JTB (Thailand) Co Ltd has been appointed by the OCT to sell the tickets.

Tickets will be available in packages of two sports, two nights accommodation and insurance, with prices starting at Bt24,500 per person. There are a total of 59 packages for 14 disciplines – badminton, baseball, basketball, volleyball, beach volleyball, football, golf, rugby, skateboard, table tennis, rock climbing, taekwondo, tennis and weightlifting.

Tickets for amateur boxing are not included as the competition schedule has not been finalised.

For more information on the packages, visit www.jtbthailand.com/th/home/.

The former Japan manager was appointed as Thailand’s head coach last week and has been assigned to oversee both the national senior and U23 teams.

The Saitama native vowed to help Thailand assume it reign as the powerhouse of football in this region, which has recently been dominated by Vietnam,

“My first goal is to make Thailand return to No 1 in Asean,” said Nishino who spearheaded Japan to the round of 16 in the 2018 World Cup Finals. “After watching training at several clubs and some Thai League games, I believe Thailand can improve to the world-class level. I will try to push Thailand forward to achieve that level.”

The 64-year-old Nishino succeeded Milovan Rajevac as the national senior team coach. The Serbian was sacked following Thailand’s loss to India in January’s Asian Cup.

Despite his World Cup experience and 16-year career in the J-League, this is Nishino’s first job overseas. A daunting task awaits the Japanese coach who is expected to rescue Thai football which has been going downhill with far from impressive results from both the senior and U23 teams.

“I’ve never worked outside Japan. It will be a tough challenge for me,” the Japanese coach added.

As players won’t be available until after the Thai League at the end of August, Nishino will have to scout for players and gather information during the run-up. His first challenge will be the 2022 World Cup Asian Qualifiers’s opening game against Asean No 1 Vietnam on September 5.

Nishino will face a second challenge in helping the U23 team defend the SEA Games gold medal in Manila this December.

Stanford’s surprise victory in 2018 at age 40 was a defining moment in a career that had seen her embrace the fact that a major win may never happen for her.

“People say majors define careers. I was at a point where I was okay personally without it. That was hard. Took me years to get to that point,” said Stanford, who came close to major glory in 2003 when she lost in a playoff at the U.S. Women’s Open. “I just felt like I needed one just to kind of (give) affirmation for myself. I always believed I could win one. When you don’t year after year after year you do kind of start to wonder. But I’ve loved every minute of it. Maybe it’s been a blessing that it happened late because I’ve been able to enjoy it a lot. So I mean, I’ve just had a great time.”

Since her Evian victory, Stanford endured the first major injury of her career when she hurt her rib at last October’s TOTO Japan Classic. Sidelined until the Honda LPGA Thailand, Stanford has yet to break the top-25 at any event this season. She comes to Evian with low expectations but thinks that this return to the site of the biggest win of her 19-year LPGA career may be just the ticket to reviving her game.

“Honestly, it’s been a very bad year. I’m at the lowest point I’ve ever been Money List-wise. Greens in regulation are awful. Putting is horrendous. Stat-wise, it’s one of the worst years I’ve ever had,” said Stanford. “So that kind of helps me this week because my expectations have gone way down. I feel like I’m starting to hit the ball a little bit better. My putting, you know, I feel comfortable on these greens, so that’s helpful. But I think it’s been a good mix for me this week of, Okay, I’m finding some comfort here; expectations are low; mom is here; I have some friends coming. So I think that’s going to be pretty helpful.”

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT DEFENDING CHAMPION ANGELA STANFORD 

• Stanford shot a final-round 68 at the 2018 The Evian Championship en route to capturing her first career major championship victory
• Stanford was the first American to win The Evian Championship since it became a major in 2013
• Stanford is a six-time winner on the LPGA; prior to the 2018 Evian Championship, her most recent win was the 2012 HSBC Women’s Champions
• Stanford was the oldest player to win on the LPGA Tour in 2018 at 40 years, 9 months and 29 days
• Stanford is currently No. 45 on the Rolex Women’s World Golf Rankings; she became No. 30 after rising 46 spots for her win at the Evian Championship
• In 2019, Stanford has made 14 starts; her best finish is T23 at the Meijer LPGA Classic and the LPGA MEDIHEAL Championship
• She is a six-time U.S. Solheim Cup Team member (2003, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2013, 2015) with an overall record of 4-13-3

CELEBRATION OF 25 YEARS IN EVIAN 

On Wednesday at the Evian Resort Golf Club, Franck Riboud and Jacques Bungert led a champagne toast to 25 years of the Evian Championship. Then current players, joined by LPGA Commissioner Mike Whan, surprised the two men with the Evian water shower received each year by the winner on the 18th green.

“I am not a person who seeks attention, but I am really impressed with what we did, Jacques and the team,” Riboud said. “Every year we were thinking about the future. Today it is very fashionable to support ladies sports, with the Women’s World Cup soccer in France, but you go back 25 years and we had no one to help us.”

STRONG CONFIDENCE FOR FRANCE’S CELINE BOUTIER 

Celine Boutier returns to her home country with great expectations in her fourth start at The Evian Championship. After claiming the 2019 ISPS Handa Vic Open title and becoming a Rolex First-Time Winner, Boutier gained more confidence in herself and her skills, detecting an upward trend in her performance.

“I feel like it’s definitely made me more confidence in my abilities,” said Boutier of her early-season win. “I feel like last year I played pretty okay all year round but I struggled to kind of have some top 10 finishes; and especially in majors I really wasn’t playing very well. But getting that first win so early was definitely a relief… And then I felt like performing in majors was also another step for me, because I hadn’t really had that good results before. So I feel like overall my game is kind of going upwards.”

Boutier had a strong performance at this year’s U.S. Women’s Open in Charleston, S.C., with a T5 finish, her best finish in a major, and hopes to keep the momentum going.

“I felt like being able to have a top five at the U.S. Open on one of the toughest courses kind of really helped me gain more confidence,” said Boutier, who is teeing off on Thursday at 1 p.m. with So Yeon Ryu and Yu Liu. “I’m trying to just focus on my game and not really just being in a major and having high scores or whatever it is.”

NOTABLE FIRST-ROUND GROUPINGS (all off No. 1)

Highlighting the morning groupings are three of the LPGA’s 2019 major winners – Hannah Green, Jeongeun Lee6 and Jin Young Ko at 8:36 a.m.

Defending champion Angela Stanford tees off with fellow Evian champions Anna Nordqvist (2017) and In Gee Chun (2016) at 12:05 p.m.

World No. 1 Sung Hyun Park tees off at 12:16 p.m. with No. 3 Lexi Thompson and No. 4 Minjee Lee. 

DESIGNATED HOLE FOR AON RISK REWARD CHALLENGE

The season-long Aon Risk Reward Challenge will highlight the world’s best professional golfers as they tackle the most strategically challenging holes across both the LPGA Tour and PGA TOUR schedules. The player from each Tour on top of the Aon leaderboard at the end of the regular season will receive a $1 million prize.

Heading into The Evian Championship, Lee-Anne Pace leads the standings at -0.818, with Hyo Joo Kim in second at -0.750 and Ariya Jutanugarn and Carlota Ciganda tied at -0.719. Brittany Altomare, Chella Choi and Jodi Ewart Shadoff all jumped into the top 10 following their performances at the Marathon Classic presented by Dana. Altomare and Choi carded two birdies on the par-5 17th hole, while Ewart Shadoff converted three birdies but bogeyed the hole in the second round.

The designated Aon Risk Reward Challenge hole at The Evian Championship is No. 14. This par 3 can be played from 225 yards to 150 yards depending on hole location and the tee being used. The challenge doesn’t stop with the tee shot, the green slopes against the terrain so a putt that looks like it breaks one way will go completely the opposite way. The players will have to rely on their practice rounds to play the correct break, different from what their eyes tell them, to avoid a big number.

The scoring system is identical on both the LPGA Tour and PGA TOUR, and players will take their best two scores from each Aon Risk Reward Challenge hole, with the winners having the best average score to par at the end of the season. Players must play a minimum of 40 rounds throughout the season. The Challenge runs across regular season tournaments (29 LPGA Tour; 36 PGA TOUR).

Jazz rose to No 53 in the world this week, surpassing Kiradech Aphibarnrat who fell to No 54 in the world. The Thai young gun overtook the No 1 position in Thailand for the first time in his career.

The Presidents Cup will return to the Royal Melbourne Golf Club for the third time from December 9-15, when the International Team, led by Ernie Els, will take on the US Team led by Tiger Woods.

It was a timely return to form for Smith, who recorded his first top-25 finish on the PGA Tour since February. Smith placed himself in contention for his first Presidents Cup appearance after his successful title defence at the Australian PGA Championship in early December lifted the 25-year-old to No 2 in the International Team standings.

“That was one of my goals this year. That was one of my top things [to qualify],” Smith said. “Obviously I had a good run there when I started taking the rankings and kind of fell out through the middle there, but my game is coming back around.”

In the field for this week’s WGC-FedEx St Jude Invitational, Smith is also planning to play in next week’s Wyndham Championship before competing in the FedExCup Playoffs. The Aussie has given himself four more opportunities to secure a team place prior to the August 18 deadline.

Smith is one of four Australians currently qualified among the top eight, joining Marc Leishman (No 1), Adam Scott (No 4) and Jason Day (No 7).

Those just outside the top eight and vying for a Presidents Cup place this week include Justin Harding (No 11), Shugo Imahira (No 12), Sung Kang (No 14) and Corey Conners (No 19).

Jazz Janewattananond (No 9) and Abraham Ancer (No 10) are not in the St Jude field this week.

On the US Team, captain Woods missed the cut at the Open in his first start in four weeks but remains at No 12 in the standings. With Woods planning to rest two more weeks prior to the FedExCup Playoffs, the first-time captain will have two more tournaments to play his way inside the top eight.

The top-eight US team players are all in action this week, along with Tony Finau, who grabbed the No 9 position following a third-place finish at the Open. Finau switched spots with Rickie Fowler (No 10), who also enjoyed a successful week at Royal Portrush with a sixth-place finish but is taking this week off.

Brooks Koepka cemented his position as US team standings leader with his fourth place at the Open.

The $4.1-million major tournament is being held at the par-71 Evian Resort Golf Club in Evian-les-Bains for the 25th year.

Ariya’s five compatriots are older sister Moriya, Pornanong Phatlum, Jasmine Suwannapura, Pajaree Anannarukarn and Pavarisa Yoktuan. Celine Boutier, a French player with Thai parents, will also be competing.

The 23-year-old Ariya, who has won 10 LPGA titles including two majors, is gunning for her first title of 2019.

So far this year she has competed in 17 events and finished in the top 10 six times. Her best finishes were second in the Thornberry Creek LPGA Classic in Wisconsin earlier this month and joint third in the Dow Great Lakes Invitational doubles tournament, where she pairing up her sister.

“After practising I feel that the course is difficult to play this year – the fairways are narrow and the firmer greens also add to the difficulty level,” she said.

Moriya

But Moriya said that after a disappointing start to the year her confidence had risen during the past 3-4 tournaments and she was more confident of doing well in France.

Moriya, who turns 25 on the final day of the event, is also chasing her first title for 2019 and just the second of her career.

She will be playing the Evian for the seventh time, her best performance being joint third in 2017, when she trailed the playoff group by just one stroke.

Pornanong agreed the course was playing harder this year.

“It will be more challenging and difficult to shoot a low score if you miss the fairways,” said the 29-year-old from Chaiyaphum.

Pornanong

Jasmine, 26, from Sattahip is back in form, having won the Dow Great Lakes Invitational with Sydney Clanton of the US last week; it is certain to lift her confidence heading a major event like the Evian Championship.

Pajaree, a 20-year-old Bangkokian, is in her rookie year on the LPGA Tour. Her best performance so far was 12th place at the Lotte Championship in Hawaii.

Jasmine