THE AMUNDI EVIAN CHAMPIONSHIP

July 8, 2026

Grace Kim

Evian Resort Golf Club

Press Conference

THE MODERATOR: We are very pleased to be joined by our defending champion at the Amundi Evian Championship, Grace Kim. Grace, how does it feel to be back here in Evian and what was the reaction and emotions you felt as you got to go to the course yesterday?

GRACE KIM: I mean, driving in kind of made me think of all the memories that were created last year and obviously all great memories, so it is really nice to be back here in Evian. It's quite warm this week, which is nice as well.

Yeah, driving in kind of felt weird in a way I guess, but in a good way. Yeah, playing the golf course yesterday I have seen the whole course now. There are some differences on the golf course, especially 18.

So, yeah, we'll see how this works, but definitely makes the holes trickier than it already was.

Q. What have you made of those two changes, adding those two bunkers on the fairway?

GRACE KIM: Yeah, it makes the fairway a lot more tighter than it was last year on 18, but obviously you try to aim for the left for the ball to come back to the middle as the fairway slopes that way.

Off the tee I don't think it changes too much, but if you end in in the fairway bunker it just forces you to lay up. You can't slack the lay up either because of the additional bunker on the left, so just making sure you're switched on throughout the whole hole.

Q. Speaking of 18, fun plaque over by the tree where you chipped in. What did you make when you saw that?

GRACE KIM: Yeah, I saw it for the first time yesterday and it was really cool. And hearing those people that come to play Evian and trying it out themselves, yeah, kind of makes me feel nice about it.

It is a very cool thing for Evian Resort to put up for it, so I'm really grateful for it. It makes me feel like, you know, a bit after legendary moment, so, yeah, I'm really, really grateful for that.

Q. Have you tried to re-create the shot?

GRACE KIM: I was asked to do it yesterday. I ended up not doing it, which I think that saved a lot of their time and mine as well. Maybe I'll just leave it at that.

Q. Last one. How has your life changed since becoming a major champion?

GRACE KIM: In a way not so much, but I guess behind the scenes a lot in the sense of now I have the flexibility to pick and choose my schedule, which then enables me to build in development blocks to further better my game and scores for the major seasons.

In terms of self-confidence, it's boosted a lot. But, you know, golf can really humble you quite quickly, so in the times where it does get tough I think I do handle myself a lot better. My aim and purpose hasn't changed much in that way, so just making sure I reiterate the good things my team has put in me; energy and time as well.

Yeah, in that sense not so much. In the Grace Kim golfer, yeah, it's changed a lot.

Q. I know there is a funny story as it relates to Srixon on last year. I think you noticed something about Hannah's golf ball that you really wanted to emulate.

GRACE KIM: Yes, it worked out. It was funny, I was actually thinking about it yesterday. I played a practice round with Hannah and her husband Jarryd was wagging and he looked at my bail and said, oh, how come you don't have -- Hannah has a smiley face on the Srixon, and I said, I'm not a major winner yet. Funny enough, I won that week, and straight after that I put a kangaroo on it, that so Skippy is on my golf ball now.

Q. Where is Skippy now?

GRACE KIM: I think Skippy is making a return this year. Tanya, Ash Buhai's caddie, Tanya, her friend brought out the blowup Skippy last year, and luckily it's travel friendly as well, so I think it's making a return this week.

Q. I feel like we've all seen your face scattered around Evian this week. In bakeries and things like that. Is it weird for you to go into a restaurant and see your face?

GRACE KIM: Yes, it is weird. I guess it's a very grateful thing. There is not a lot of opportunities that come like this, so I'm trying to take it all in. But, yes, seeing my face a little bit enlarged, it is weird.

Q. I know the Aussie contingency tends to play well here. What is it about this golf course that suits ya'll's game so well?

GRACE KIM: I would say this golf course can produce a lot of good and bad, but in terms of working around the golf course I think we're all pretty skillful in that sense. Lowering our expectations is obviously one, but making sure we take in the exact slope, severity, and, you know, I don't know, gripping down -- like we know what to do to work around this golf course I would say.

I don't know. I am assuming all golfers in this field are good as well, but maybe we're just a little bit more switched on on to this golf course. I would say there are a lot of different sloped courses all around Australia as well. Maybe having that exposure since a young age helps a lot.

Q. You were talking about the Australian contingent. How did you celebrate last year?

GRACE KIM: Oh, yes, of course. Yeah, we went down to the local public, which is apparently burnt down, which I'm really sad about. We went down and they were all there. I was having a shower, washing off the champagne, and basically by the time I got there they were all pretty drunk. It was all good fun.

I was able to get the trophy replica as well as the champagne bottle. I wanted to keep the big bottle. I don't do well with alcohol so I let the others deal with that. We all filled up the trophy and everyone had a sip and it was such a great time.

Q. Self-confidence, you said your level of confidence has grown after winning here. Do you approach the majors or big events in a different way now?

GRACE KIM: Yeah, it's a different vibe. It's a bigger schemed golf event. Everything is much bigger in the sense we're at a bigger golf course, like length, golf course in general with a lot of history.

I think going into majors you kind of look at it a different way but at the same time you're not changing anything you've done. Not changing your process, routine, or your mindset. It might be a little bit more sharp in the sense of you want to play and produce good scores, but I think the best players do tend to get around these golf courses well and I think in that sense a lot of the top players are all rounders and that's what we all want to pursue to be.

It's -- you will only get better the more you play. In that sense I think everyone tries to stay on top of their game and come into the week as sharp as possible.

Q. Back to that chip in, because it never does get old. On the Ladies European Tour last month, you probably saw the video, we had a bunch of Australians trying to recreate it. First, what did you make of the video and the efforts? Secondly, how does it feel to know you have so much admiration from players you grew up playing alongside?

GRACE KIM: Yeah, I saw the whole video. Happened to be one of my best mates, Steph Bunque, that made it, and she even said the celebration -- I think I celebrated a bit harder than you ever did, so that was really cool.

So thank you for the video. It is a cool feeling seeing all the girls that I grew up playing golf with be that -- in that position where they can just chip this chip for me. Yeah, I'm -- I don't know, it's kind of weird to put it into words.

I would say we're all I guess the same golfer as we were when we were juniors. Just everyone is in different stages. That just shows how golf can put you in different parts of the world but we're all kind of one still.

So, yeah, I'm really grateful for that video and I'm hoping to see them -- we're all in the same field soon.

Q. Secondly, I believe you were at the World Cup last week.

GRACE KIM: Yeah.

Q. With Hannah and Su Oh. I know the result didn't go Australia's way, but what was that experience like?

GRACE KIM: Yeah, I learnt a lot about soccer. My dad is a huge fan, so while he was still there I was able to get some tickets. Definitely a stressful sport. I never thought just watching such a team -- I mean, I don't think I can every play a team sport alone, but watching it all pan outright there was really cool. The stadium was massive. So many people.

Unfortunately more Egyptian fans than Australian fans. We tried to scream much louder than them but it didn't quite work.

Yeah, despite the score and the result. We had a blast, and, yeah, I don't think I could ever bay soccer coop.

Q. Needed Skippy there.

GRACE KIM: Yes.

Q. Thank you. Good luck this week. Just wanted to ask you about how you feel about your game right now. Looks like the last couple majors you've been close, so just tell us where you're at.

GRACE KIM: I think overall, very solid. Again, I don't think I've quite overcome or capitalized on a score or tournament, so I would say it's in a decent spot just kind of eliminating the soft bogeys or soft three-putts here and there. I think, yeah, this golf course obviously has lots of good things that gave it to me, but it's a new week. Everyone is starting fresh from par.

As much as I enjoy reliving those moments on the golf course, I would like to create new ones. Hopefully I can do that. And, yeah, I would say my game is solid enough in a good position to do so.

Q. One more thing: In terms of what's happened in the last 12 months, what's been the most surreal moment that's come from winning this championship?

GRACE KIM: I would say a lot.

Q. Anyone got in touch with you that you would never have thought would do because of it or anything like that, anything happen face to face?

GRACE KIM: Yeah, I've seen a lot of Aussie names back in Australia and I think just being recognized here and there a bit more is super cool. Honestly just coming back and reliving it here this week is -- my memory is not all that good --

Q. I know what it's like. Wait until you get to my age.

GRACE KIM: Yeah, no, honestly it's just surreal to be back here. I can't believe it's already been a year to begin with. But to be back in a place where I have -- where to changed my life it's super cool to be back.

THE MODERATOR: Perfect, thank you for your time, Grace. Best of luck this week.

GRACE KIM: Thank you.