Played as part of the Ladies European Tour since 1994 and owning a nomadic role on the calendar, the Evian became the fifth women’s major in 2013 and was traditionally the final major of the year before shifting once again after the September date proved troublesome with weather.

Once known as the Evian Masters, this tournament has been a happy hunting ground for Aussies, while Americans have typically struggled, with the host venue occasionally proving controversial in the eyes of certain players.

Another women’s major to receive a prize purse increase in 2022, this week’s winner will walk away with $US1 million before the game’s top women embark on a links swing in Scotland concluding at the AIG Women’s Open at Muirfield.

DEFENDING CHAMPION: West Australian Minjee Lee came home with a wet sail on Sunday last year when she closed with a bogey-free 64 to eventually take her first major title following a play-off with Jeongeun Lee6.

RIGHT: Last year's winner Minjee Lee is showered with some local French product by fellow Evian winner Lydia Ko. PHOTO: Stuart Franklin/Getty Images.

Lee, now the World No.2 made the turn in three-under before she heated up and made four birdies in the final five holes, including at the 72nd hole, to set the mark for Lee6 to chase after she started the final round with a five shot lead and seven shot advantage over Lee.

Lee6 limped to an even par-71, then struggled at the first hole of sudden death when Minjee fired a 6-iron second shot inside 10 feet at the par-5.

Lee’s eagle try took a piece of the hole but failed to drop but left a simple birdie putt to take the trophy and remove the tag of best player without a major.

COURSE: The Champions Course at Evian Resort Golf Club opened in 1904 and has hosted this event since its inception as the Evian Masters on the Ladies European Tour in 1994.

Now measuring 5,965 metres from the back tees, Evian plays to a par of 71 and manoeuvres its way through parkland and overlooks Lake Geneva.

It was completely redesigned by European Golf Design (EGD) in 2013 and typically yields a winning score of double digits under par despite the layout that has frustrated a number of big name players in the past due to a perceived lack of reward for good shots.

Set on the edge of Lake Geneva, the Evian Resort has played host to this event since its inception in 1994. PHOTO: Stuart Franklin/Getty Images.

By no means an architectural gem, the Evian Resort course has produced a strong list of winners in the event’s time as a major but Lexi Thompson is one who has found it not quite to her liking. So too Stacy Lewis who skipped the event for two years.

“You're a beautiful place Evian but that's just too many bad breaks with good shots for me,” the American wrote on social media a couple of years back.

PRIZEMONEY: US$6,500,000

RELATED: So-called expert golf tips for this week

PLAYERS TO WATCH: After an Australian, Cam Smith, won the 150th Open Championship last week there will be plenty of Aussies hoping for a second consecutive major success, and there are plenty of reasons to believe it could happen here.

Minjee Lee won here in 2021 and has used her maiden major win as a launch pad for more success at the highest level.

The winner of the recent U.S. Women’s Open, Lee also won the Founders Cup earlier this year and was joint runner-up in her last start at the KPMG Women’s PGA, when a few things going her way could have seen a third major win on her resume.

Lee clearly plays well here, with three other top-20 finishes in addition to her victory and the 26-year-old’s game has never been better.

Minjee's former state teammate Hannah Green is chasing her own second major win this week at the Evian. PHOTO: Elsa/Getty Images.

Our other major winner in the field, Hannah Green, will like her chances of adding another major here despite relative inexperience at the venue.

Green skipped this tournament last year in favour of some time at home in Perth ahead of the Olympics in Tokyo, but her form in 2022 has been exceptional, with generally one round at each event holding her back from adding another trophy to her mantle.

Green closed with a 75 at the KPMG Women’s PGA in her last appearance before once again heading back to the West for a break, her T5 result perhaps slightly disappointing.

Twice a winner at home, and with six LPGA top-20s this year, Green has a game that suits the ball striking examination this week.

Signing for matching rounds of 75 over the weekend, In Gee Chun claimed another major win at the KPMG Women’s PGA at Congressional and is a past champion here that suggests she could feature in France.

Chun hadn’t shown much in the way of form before her third major title, but she is an exceptionally talented ball striker and will hope her Aussie caddie Dean Herden has bounced back after getting COVID following her win.

Nelly Korda has been very impressive since her return from an operation on her arm after finding a blood clot, and will be full of good energy after a T8 finish alongside her sister Jessica last week at the LPGA’s teams event.

Korda plays well on any layout and was T19 here last year after a sluggish opening round of 74.

The winner here in 2015, Lydia Ko plays the Evian course better than most and is playing some of her best golf in a long time so far this year.

A disappointing weekend saw the Kiwi finish well down the leaderboard at Congressional, but that result was something of an outlier for the 25-year-old in 2022.

Ko has six top-10s on the LPGA Tour, including a win, and if she is near the top of the leaderboard entering the weekend will fancy her chances of finally adding a third major championship to her record.

72-HOLE RECORD: 263 (In Gee Chun, 2016)

PAST AUSSIE WINNERS: Minjee Lee (2021), Karrie Webb (2006 – non major), Wendy Doolan (2004 – non major)  Rachel Teske (2001 – non major)

AUSTRALIANS IN THE FIELD: Minjee Lee, Hannah Green, Steph Kyriacou, Su Oh and Sarah Kemp.

TV TIMES*

Round 1: Thursday (Fox Sports 503 7pm – 10pm & 11:30pm –2:30am)
Round 2: Friday (Fox Sports 503 7pm – 10pm & 11:30pm –2:30am)
Round 3: aturday (Fox Sports 505 7pm – 10pm & Fox Sports 503 11pm – 12:55am)
Round 4: Sunday (Fox Sports 503 7:30pm – 12:58am)

*AEST, check local guides