Celine Boutier, as expected, was awash in emotion after securing a major victory at the Amundi Evian Championship. She skipped REM cycles when she returned to Paris after the celebration of the historic win.
Boutier, a French icon for her victory on home soil. She won the title by a large margin after finishing the tournament with 14 under par. This was enough to give her a six stroke advantage over the runner-up Brooke Henderson.
She couldn’t sleep before her media appearance for the Freed Group Women’s Scottish Open. The event will be held this week in Ayrshire in Scotland.
Who needs a sleeping cycle? Boutier has been insisting all week long that winning the Amundi-Evian would complete her season, or at least her career.
Of course, dreams don’t last forever. While Boutier’s clubs were still on a high Tuesday, Boutier herself was just riding. The clubs of the Duke University graduate were still on their trip when Boutier arrived in Scotland.
She said: “First day of my holiday today, but I hope they get on the next flight coming tonight.”
Boutier’s only misfortune in the past few days is that she hasn’t been able to play golf. She came into the Amundi Evian having won three LPGA titles and three Ladies European Tour victories, but she left with what she wanted most. She’s still smart enough to know that success at this level can be fleeting.
“I don’t think that winning is easy at any level. “I think that especially on the LPGA the talent is incredible and it’s hard to pull it off. And to be able do it under major conditions is even more difficult because of the stress and the significance of it all,” she said. “I feel that, yeah, having a chance to play for the victory on Sunday was already an important win for me. And to have the audience behind you, it definitely helped me.”
Celine Boutier with the Amundi Evian Trophy following the victory at the Amundi Evian championship at Evian Resort Golf Club in Evian-les-Bains on July 30, 2023. (Photo by Stuart Franklin/Getty Images).
Since she won the crown, she has been replaying the celebrations, including more champagne than Botuier ever imagined.
“I had no idea how it would happen. It was a dream come true for me. This year, I wouldn’t call it a target. “I obviously wanted to do well in the big leagues,” she said. “But I never played well in Evian in the past, the pressure was too much for me. This year I decided to do it for myself, and not to put myself under so much stress. It was an advantage to me that I had the chance to win the final round. I also thought it was great to have the crowd cheering you on. I would never have imagined they would be that loud, energetic and passionate.
It felt good for me, and I think it was great for the other people involved. It is a dream come true to be able share this with my family and friends in my country.
Boutier is not resting for long, and will be meeting up with a field of impressive players at the Scottish Open this week. Seven of the 15 previous winners of the year are expected to compete, including Ashleigh Bouhai (ShopRite LPGA Classic), Allisen Corporationz (U.S. Women’s Open), Linn Gran (Dana Open), Cheyenne Knight, (Dow Great Lakes Bay Invitational), Lilia Vi (Honda LPGA Thailand Chevron Championship), Ruon
Boutier’s sister and mother are also still with her, as they frequently make the trip when it is possible to European stops. Boutier, who had her heart set on the Evian, said that she would be happy to win this week and celebrate with family and friends.
“That would be incredible. “I feel that Scotland is the Home of Golf. So, it would be my goal to win in Scotland during my career,” said she. “Any opportunity that I have to win will be taken and I will do my best.”
