Evian Masters: Your Yearly Career Affirmation

"I'm good enough.  I'm smart enough.  And, dog gone it, people like me."

Those were the words that Stuart Smalley told himself everyday as a daily affirmation.  That was good enough to help the fictional character - played by the now Senator from Minnesota, think about that - get through the day.

It's not that simple on the LPGA Tour.  Playing for about 40% of the prize money of the men, and with fewer events on the schedule because of the economy and the former strongarm Commissioner, LPGA Tour players cannot simply tell themselves that they belong out on Tour.  They have to prove it to their peers and so that they can continue to live out their careers.

The Evian Masters is one of the bigger non-major events on the LPGA Tour schedule.  It is a limited-field event that features some of the game's best before the Women's British Open.  Over the past several years, it has been home to career affirming victories for many players.

On Sunday, Ai Miyazato took her maiden LPGA Tour victory by winning the tournament in a playoff over Sophie Gustafson.  Having been under such scrutiny since her LPGA Tour debut, Miyazato had struggled to sniff the trophy.  The victory, though, affirms her efforts over the last four seasons and positions her well for the Women's British Open.

Last year, Helen Alfreddson reaffirmed her career with a victory in this championship.  It turned out to be a springboard for the remainder of the season.  She had a second place finish in Portland and won again in China.  Effectively, the Evian Masters performance resurrected her career.

In the season prior to Alfresson, Natalie Gulbis made this tournament her first - and still remains lone - LPGA Tour win.  Long criticized for her looks over quality of play, the win removed the label "Anna Kournikova of golf" from her CV.

While Paula Creamer may stand without a major title to her credit, winning the Evian Masters was one of the higlights of her breakout 2005 season.  She won twice that year, including at the Sybase Classic.

The downside of this string of breakout and statement wins is that these players have not tasted major success in the same season as their Evian win.  Karrie Webb is the only player since 2003 to win this tournament and a major in the same season.  Before that, it was Annika Sorenstam in 2002 as part of what may have been her best season.  Even prior to that, the 1996 Evian produced Laura Davies as a champion at her peak.  She won two LPGA Tour majors that year.

Major or not to follow, the Evian Masters does seem to be in that company of tournaments that players want to win just behind the LPGA Tour majors.  And perhaps unlike its non-major peers, the Evian Masters can validate a career in a way that would make Stuart Smalley smile back into the mirror.