The Evian Masters Golf Club is home to the golfing elite this week for the 18th Evian Masters. 111 players from 31 countries will compete for EUR 3.25 million, one of the richest prizes along with the US Open.

The popularity of this tournament is reflected in the fact that all of the top 16 female players are all present. The French will be pinning their (slender) hopes on Gwladys Nocera, European player of the year in 2008 and who was very well placed last year after two days before falling off the pace.

The ‘major’ news this year is that, as of 2013, Evian Masters is becoming The Evian and one of the five Majors on the LPGA Tour, and the only one played in Continental Europe!

Our Group, as Presenting Sponsor of the event, is at Evian with various initiatives designed to raise awareness of golf and share the golfing experience:

For the 3rd year running, Societe Generale is organising its “Birdie for Charity” event. During the tournament, every birdie* on the 15th hole will be converted into money for the Handigolf association for disabled golfers, with display boards enabling everyone to see the sum donated. On Sunday 24 July, just before the prize-giving ceremony, the sum raised will be presented to the charity along with the money raised by the “Putt for Charity” event.

Teams of two (to strengthen team spirit) can attempt a hole-in-one on the putting green for the “Putt for Charity” event. There are prizes to be won and donations will go to the Handigolf association.

Societe Generale's most innovative event, “Play with a Pro”, brings players and public together for the first time. Three amateurs selected in a draw will join three champions for an incredible “pitch & putt” on the 18th green in front of the Evian Masters public as genuine proof that nothing is as strong as team spirit.

* A birdie is a hole completed one stroke under the ‘par’ which is the theoretical number of shots required to complete the course.