The Evian Championship, The Magnificent Seven (Video)

Inbee Park is a past Evian Champion (2012), but her victory came the year before the Evian was declared a Major by the LPGA.  As a result, although played on the same track under the same conditions, a win this year would complete Inbee Park’s quest for what’s now being described as the “Super Grand Slam.”  It’s a technicality, a bit of a verbal arabesque, but Inbee Park wants to complete the process.

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Park’s sitting in the catbird’s seat right now.  She’s going into her 12th week at the top of the Rolex Rankings, and with each week her distance from Lydia Ko and Stacy Lewis increases; she leads the Tour on the Official Money List, the Race to the CME Globe, scoring average (69.43 per round), and top-10 finishes.

Although Park’s not the best driver on the Tour — 40th ranked Mo Martin is the most accurate and 197th ranked Joanna Klatten is the longest — nor the best putter, an honor that goes to 651st ranked Julie Yang — she’s put together the winning package.

Park has made 19 Tour starts this season.  She’s missed one cut.  She has 12 top-10 finishes, four of them victories.  She’s hoisted the trophy at 2 of the LPGA Tour majors and she wants to win The Evian Championship.  That would close all debate about whether or not Inbee Park has actually completed a Career Grand Slam.

Park is coming to Evian rested, playing very well, and wanting to win.  She’s won on the Evian-les-Bains track and knows it well.  This is her 8th appearance.  She’s an incredibly consistent ball striker and plays a game informed by patience and an exceptional level of mental discipline.  This looks like a winning equation to me.

Next: Stacy Lewis, Reversing a Trend