Monday 19 September 2016 17:27, UK
Richard Kaufman looks back on a historic win for In Gee Chun in Evian, and argues that the dominance of Asian players in women's golf could lead to a major being held on the continent.
The last major of the year and it probably won't go down as a classic. That may sound a little unfair but let's look at the ingredients - what am I looking for as a golfing neutral?
A bit of drama and tension, for the very best players to be tested, a mix of nationalities, some unforgettable moments, some surprise stories. And, unfortunately, we didn't really get much of that.
This year, as in 2015, the Evian Championship will go down in history. Lydia Ko's victory 12 months ago felt like a seminal moment. The youngest female winner of a major with a final-round 63, we witnessed an 18-year-old playing like a veteran as she pulled away from Lexi Thompson and the rest.
In 2016, we were treated to the lowest 72-hole total under par in any major, male or female, as In Gee Chun went round in a hard-to-believe 21 under par. She played superbly from the very first day when she shot a 63. But where was the challenge? Where was the Phil Mickelson to Chun's Henrik Stenson?
Sung Hyun Park threatened, but let's look at this objectively. After eight holes of the third round, Chun led by five, and by the end of day three she led by four. She stretched her lead to five in the final round and never saw it reduced to more than four as she romped home to her record-breaking win.
Take nothing away from Chun, she is a joy to watch and has one of the best swings in golf. She showed last year she was going to be a force, winning eight times worldwide including the US Open. And in her first year on the LPGA Tour, she was already miles clear in the Rookie of the Year race before arriving at Evian.
Furthermore, in what was the hardest qualification for the Olympic golf, she managed to make the South Korean team despite being sidelined for a month with a back injury. Her first two LPGA titles are majors, just like a certain Se Ri Pak, and there will be plenty more for a player with world No 1 potential.
At the start of the final round in Evian, play did become a bit farcical. The torrential rain and the severe undulations of the second green forcing the squeegees out non-stop. I love going to Evian, the backdrop is breathtaking and I have been going to this venue as a commentator since 2008, but it doesn't take much bad weather to give the greenkeeping staff severe headaches.
It used to be played in July but now, as a major, it has been moved to September. That doesn't help. So, should there be a fifth major? Should it be at Evian? Is there a right answer?
One look at the leaderboard on Sunday revealed that eight Asian players finished in the top 11, and you may think a trick may have been missed by not having a major on that continent. Evian is a small coastal spa town, and the crowds are pretty good. But imagine if there was a major in Seoul, with 50,000 in attendance each day. Maybe some day in the future?
Of those eight Asians near the top, most were from South Korea, although Olympic champion Inbee Park was not among them after she had to withdraw due to injury. But it's not just at Evian where Korean players have dominated.
The top two players on the leaderboard finished in the same order on the KLPGA money list last season and, every year, the next big talent is emerging. This year, it's Sung Hyun Park and she could be the best of the lot as she has a great action and immense power. She has won $250,000 playing there this season and risen to world No 12, so it's no wonder she says she's not in a hurry to leave!
I remember speaking to Jeung Hyun Wang last year and asking him why he didn't have any sponsors' logos. He said the major Korean corporations were mainly interested in the women golfers. It all changed for Wang when he won back to back titles on the European Tour earlier this year but it just shows the strength of the women's game there.
You can't imagine the same scenario in Europe. When Chun holds a press conference in Korea they have to hire out a conference room to fit in 180 journalists. They are huge stars.
Karine Icher, the highest ranked French player and a regular on the LPGA Tour for many years, was asked this week why we can't get more Europeans playing like Korean girls. She said it came down to culture. At the tender age of five, they play for six hours a day. At 12, they stop school to join up with the national set up. And at 18, they are ready to play on the LPGA Tour.
Karine pointed out that, in Europe, education comes first. So credit to the likes of Charley Hull and Catriona Matthew who have shown, in this period of Korean dominance, that they can compete with the best.
Another French golfer Gwladys Nocera told me recently she had noticed a marked difference in the standard on the LPGA Tour the last few years. Young golfers with immense talent who play without fear. She wishes she could have had that attitude at their age - it's the perfect mix which means those records will probably keep on tumbling.
