No one has won the Evian Championship consecutively since the event became the fifth major tournament in women’s professional golf. Canadian Brooke Henderson is able to achieve the feat this weekend.

Last year, Henderson scored a second career triumph at a major LPGA tournament when she won the Evian Championship by a stroke over American Sophia Schubert.

But even though big names in women’s golf, such as Helen Alfredsson, Laura Davies, Annika Sorenstam and Ai Miyazato, have won this tournament on more than one occasion, none of them have finished at the top of the rankings after 2013. when the LPGA made the Evian Championship a major tournament.

“I love the opportunity to try to defend my title,” Henderson said at a press conference Wednesday. Holding the trophy yesterday when I had to give it back was very sad but, at the same time, it was very emotional,” admitted the Ontarian.

“It was really cool to see my name engraved on the trophy and join a long list of former champions with incredible pasts. For me, it’s really cool to be a part of that. »

Davies is the only golfer to have won the Evian Championship in consecutive years, in 1995 and 1996. At the time, it was a European Women’s Tour tournament.

“It’s really exciting to have the opportunity to be the first player to win it two years in a row,” Henderson admitted, but said it was her goal this weekend. the fairways of the Evian Resort Golf Club, in Évian-les-Bains, France.

“But there are so many talented players here this week, the best in the world. Just having the opportunity to play well and play against them every week is really cool. I want to deliver strong rounds on Thursday and Friday and I’ll see if I can get to the thick of the fight and try to win it again. »

Ontario’s Maddie Szeryk is the only other Canadian to participate in the tournament.