The Evian course on Lake Geneva in France reopened on July 1, ahead of the first Evian Championship to be classified as a Major this September.

The nine month renovation of the course was handled by architect Dave Sampson of European Golf Design, and also overseen by American designer Steve Smyers, who consulted on behalf of the LPGA Tour.

Franck Riboud, chairman of owner Danone Group, and also of the Evian Championship, said: “It's true that we benefit from a magical setting. But it's not the beauty of the setting that makes a Major course, it's the way the course plays. It's about the pace, the alternation between moments of emotion or annoyance, the tension that you experience over three holes followed by your breathing on the next three. We have retained a strong identity, but are attesting our desire to return to pure golf. We wanted a grand comeback to what is natural.”

This year's Evian Championship, the first Major ever to be played in continental Europe, will take place from 12-15 September. Inbee Park's victories in the first three Majors of the year mean that she could potentially come to Evian trying to close out a unique Grand Slam.