After her third round on Saturday, Celine Boutier admitted she was playing “mind games” with herself, trying hard to pretend that the 2023 Amundi Evian was just another tournament, similar to the countless events she’s played since becoming an LPGA rookie in 2017.
“I was kind of half-joking, but I feel like the fact that my family is here and we’re staying in a house 15, 20 minutes away kind of really helps me take my mind off golf and the tournament,” Boutier said on Saturday. “I feel like that’s been helpful for me to really kind of relax and not think about golf.”
But alas, this was no ordinary event. And Boutier delivered an extraordinary performance — one that her countrymen will remember for a long time.
Capping off a dream week, the native of Clamart, France, stormed to her first major championship on home soil, taking the crown at the 2023 Amundi Evian Championship by a comfortable margin. With fans cheering wildly, Boutier finished the tournament at 14 under, marking a six-stroke victory over runner-up Brooke Henderson.
Heading into the final round with a three-stroke edge, Boutier came storming out of the gates on Sunday, posting birdies on three of the first four holes to run away from the field. Boutier, who insisted a victory at the Evian would be a dream for her, brought three LPGA titles into the week and three Ladies European Tour wins as well, including the French Open in 2021.
Show us the way, @celineboutier
She knocked in a birdie on 15 and proceeded to hit her tee shot HERE on 16! pic.twitter.com/1CSBPRSrfr
— LPGA (@LPGA) July 30, 2023
Henderson, meanwhile, appeared to making a run on the front nine, as she used birdies on the fourth and ninth holes to get to 9 under, but a bogey on No. 12 seemed to take any steam out of her charge. She finished at 8 under for the tournament and 1 under for the day.
Nelly Korda, who fired a 64 on Saturday, didn’t enjoy as much success in the final round, shooting a 72 to finish 5 under, pushing into a crowded tie for ninth with Rose Zhang, Atthaya Thitikul, Megan Khang and Su Ji Kim.