When three golfers from the same country occupy the top five at a major, it’s not luck—it’s a cultural phenomenon that’s reshaping women’s golf

Something extraordinary is happening at The Amundi Evian Championship in France, and it has nothing to do with the beautiful Alpine scenery or the champagne flowing in the hospitality tents. Three Australian women have essentially turned one of golf’s most prestigious tournaments into their personal backyard BBQ, occupying three of the top five spots heading into Sunday’s final round.

Gabriela Ruffels sits tied for the lead at 11-under, flanked by compatriots Grace Kim and Minjee Lee just one shot back. It’s the kind of dominance that makes you wonder if there’s something in the water Down Under—or if Australian golf has cracked some secret code the rest of the world is still trying to figure out.

Ruffels: From Wimbledon Spectator to Major Championship Leader

Here’s what makes Ruffels’ position even more remarkable: just last week, she was sitting in the Wimbledon stands with her boyfriend, probably thinking more about strawberries and cream than sand wedges and putting lines. The 25-year-old took what she called a “short vacation” in London before heading to France, where she promptly opened with a bogey-free 65 that announced her arrival on the major championship stage.

“It was good. Super solid,” Ruffels said with the kind of understated confidence that seems to be an Australian trademark. “Started off with a bogey but was able to bounce back on No. 2. Then had, I think, six birdies from then on in.”

What’s particularly telling is how Ruffels describes going low: “I feel like when you go low, you’re not trying to. It just kind of happens. You get some momentum.” This isn’t the language of someone pressing or forcing the issue—it’s the voice of someone who’s learned to trust the process, even when the stakes are this high.

Kim: Playing Through the Pain

Grace Kim’s story heading into Sunday is one of pure grit. The 24-year-old is battling illness but refuses to let it derail her shot at major championship glory. “I know I’m a little bit under the weather, but I am going to try to do my best to do the same thing. No doubting myself. Just backing myself more than anything.”

Kim’s journey to this moment has been anything but smooth. She’s been within five shots of the lead entering the final round nine times in her career, most recently at the Meijer LPGA Classic last month. But this is different—this is a major championship, and for someone whose only LPGA victory came at the 2023 LOTTE Championship, the opportunity represents a career-defining moment.

Lee: The Veteran Chasing History

Then there’s Minjee Lee, who brings a different kind of pressure to Sunday’s final round. The 29-year-old is already the most recent major champion on tour, having won the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship just last month. A victory at Evian would put her one major away from completing the Career Grand Slam—a feat achieved by only seven women in golf history.

“I think just being here over the years, you know a little bit where the breaks are going,” Lee said when asked about her experience advantage. “I think in general being in this position before, being where I am probably by the end of today, I think it’s going to be nice to have that experience under my belt.”

Lee’s calm assessment of the situation speaks to something deeper than just tournament experience. She’s been in the crucible before and emerged victorious. That kind of battle-tested confidence could prove invaluable when the pressure peaks on Sunday afternoon.

The Australian Secret Sauce

So what’s behind this sudden surge of Australian excellence? The theories are as varied as they are intriguing. Lee believes it comes down to fundamental ball-striking skills honed in windy conditions back home. “I think a lot of the girls are very good ball strikers,” she explained. “Definitely in Australia, we play with a little bit of wind, so we definitely have the ball striking.”

Ruffels points to the systematic development programs that have emerged in Australian golf. “I think there are six to eight of us out here now, so it goes to show what Golf Australia is doing and their program, and even Karrie Webb and what she’s doing with her scholarship program.”

The mention of Karrie Webb isn’t coincidental—the seven-time major champion has become something of a godmother to Australian women’s golf, creating pathways and opportunities that are clearly paying dividends.

What Sunday Means for Australian Golf

As the final round approaches, the implications extend far beyond just another tournament victory. If one of these three women hoists the trophy on Sunday, it would represent something larger—a statement that Australian golf has arrived as a consistent force in women’s major championships.

Kim perhaps said it best: “To be able to showcase more of the Aussie depth, I think that’s really cool to show how far we’ve come and how bright our future is.”

The question isn’t just who will win on Sunday—it’s whether we’re witnessing the emergence of a new powerhouse in women’s golf, one that could reshape the sport’s landscape for years to come. When three players from the same country dominate a major championship like this, it’s rarely a coincidence. It’s usually the result of something much deeper and more systematic.

Come Sunday afternoon in France, we’ll find out if the Australian invasion is just beginning.