The Four Must-Watch Groups on Thursday

With less than 24 hours until the 30th edition of the Major kicks off, it's time to dive into the details. The tee times for the first and second rounds have been revealed, and it's an opportunity to focus on four of the most competitive groups this Thursday, July 11th. The Champions Course is ready to challenge the best female golfers on the planet, and all conditions are set for an exciting week. Let the games begin!

7:36 AM: Yuka Saso, Nelly Korda, Amy Yang
(starting from the 10th hole)

World No. 1 Nelly Korda will be particularly well-matched in group number 8, playing alongside two other Major winners of the season, Yuka Saso and Amy Yang. Saso claimed her second US Open in early June with a three-shot lead over her compatriot Hinako Shibuno. Since joining the LPGA Tour in 2021, she has become one of its standout figures, though she still has some ground to cover to match Amy Yang. The South Korean finally secured her first Major at the KPMG PGA Championship after an 18-year career at the top level, boasting 86 top-10 finishes on the American circuit. Together, they will aim to challenge the 25-year-old American, who has already won six times this season. This trio blends youth and experience, and we can't wait to see their exploits.

7:48 AM: Lilia Vu, Lydia Ko, Charley Hull
(starting from the 10th hole)

You'll need to rise early again tomorrow morning, as the following group promises to be just as thrilling. Lilia Vu, who was sidelined for over two months due to back pain, made a stunning comeback. The revelation of 2023 (four wins, including two Majors) won her return tournament, the Meijer LPGA Classic, followed by a second-place finish in the latest Grand Slam. She will face strong competition from Lydia Ko, the 2015 winner of The Amundi Evian Championship, who remains a formidable threat. Her impressive record for a 27-year-old includes 28 professional titles and at least two top-10 finishes per Major. Charley Hull, currently the 9th-ranked player in the world, continues to chase her dream of a Major triumph, with six top-20 finishes this year.

7:42 AM: Céline Boutier, Brooke Henderson, Minjee Lee
(starting from the 1st hole)

A few minutes earlier, the three most recent winners of The Amundi Evian Championship will tee off. This trio knows the ins and outs of the challenging Champions Course and will vie for a second taste of the Savoyard trophy. Céline Boutier returns to the site of the greatest week of her career and will carry the mantle of defending champion and leader of the French contingent (including Perrine Delacour, Pauline Roussin, and Adela Cernousek). Boutier's 2023 edition was a dream, as she maintained her composure despite the fierce challenge from Brooke Henderson. The Canadian, who won two years ago, almost repeated her victory and seems to have a special connection with Evian, boasting four top-10 finishes in eight appearances. Minjee Lee, with her 52nd Grand Slam appearance this week, aims to build on her ninth-place finish at the recent US Open. Her 2021 victory here will surely inspire her to shine again under the Haute-Savoie sun.

1:00 PM: Nasa Hataoka, Rose Zhang, Hannah Green
(starting from the 1st hole)

For those who aren't early risers, we highly recommend following this group on Thursday afternoon. At 25, Nasa Hataoka is already a major force on the LPGA Tour, with nearly 30% top-10 finishes in 32 Majors (9). The Japanese player excels at big events, consistently delivering high-quality golf, though she has yet to clinch a Major trophy. Rose Zhang, despite being only 21, has shown remarkable precocity and maturity. The Stanford University student had three top-10 Major finishes last year, including two ninth places at the US Open and The Amundi Evian Championship, and an eighth at the KPMG PGA Championship. Since then, she won the Cognizant Founders Cup two months ago but hasn't replicated her Major success. Now might be the time, as it might be for Hannah Green, who has one more victory in 2024 but no top-10 finishes in Majors this season. Both players will be highly motivated to secure a podium finish, if not better, by Sunday evening.