World No.1 Lorena Ochoa of Mexico, World No.2 Annika Sorenstam and World No.3 Suzann Pettersen of Norway have arrived for the 2008 Evian Masters, from July 24-27 this week.
They join World No.4 Paula Creamer of the United States, who won the event in 2005, recent rookie major winner Yani Tseng of Taiwan, who is fifth in the world, and defending champion Natalie Gulbis of the United States, currently the World No. 35.
Gulbis earned her first title in six years on the LPGA at the 2007 Evian Masters, defeating South Korea’s Jeong Jang in a one-hole sudden death play-off. As a result she earned a first prize of US$450,000.
This week’s 90 woman field also features current New Star Money List leader Gwladys Nocera from France, who is competing on home turf for the first time in the 2008 Ladies European Tour season.
Nocera, a two time winner on the LET this year, is keen to improve on past performances and is pleased to be representing a new major partner of the Evian Masters, Société Générale, which will be the “Presenting Sponsor” of the event for five years.
Among the 34 Ladies European Tour members in the field, 10 players have already won this year, while Nocera, Pettersen, England’s Rebecca Hudson and Sweden’s Lotta Wahlin have all won twice.
The Evian Masters celebrates its 15th anniversary in 2008 and LPGA rookie Momoko Ueda, of Japan, is serving in her second year as an ambassador for the tournament. Ueda, who competed in the 2007 Evian Masters based on her performance on the LPGA of Japan (JLPGA) won the 2007 Mizuno Classic to earn her 2008 LPGA Tour card. Ueda has notched two top-10 finishes, but her first official victory as a member of the LPGA has eluded her.
In addition to next week’s Ricoh Women’s British Open, the Evian Masters is one of two designated majors on the Ladies European Tour. The increased purse total, of US$3.25 million, matches the U.S. Women’s Open as the highest purse in women’s golf.
