Evian champ Boutier, phenom Zhang stand out among deep Women's British Open field

Stretching back to 2019, there have been 21 different winners in the last 22 major championships in women's golf.

The field, then, is wide open for the final major of 2023 — even if two players stand out.

Celine Boutier and Rose Zhang are dominating the conversation heading into the Women's British Open starting Thursday at Walton Heath, a course southwest of London that hosted the Ryder Cup in 1981 and where thick heather is the biggest hazard.

Boutier because of the golf she is producing at the moment.

Zhang because of what's likely ahead for a 20-year-old star widely regarded as the next big thing in women's golf.

That she followed it up by winning the Women's Scottish Open by three strokes on Sunday spoke plenty about her belief and state of mind. Boutier is up to No. 3 in the world, is a three-time winner on the LPGA Tour this year and is only the third player since 2010 — after Inbee Park and Ariya Jutanugarn — to capture a major then win the next event on the LPGA Tour.

"It's definitely a little bit tiring because it's now been three weeks on the road," Boutier said. "It's not easy to stay focused and motivated. But at the same time, it's also the last major of the year. So I'm just trying to focus on that and trying to finish strong."

She was the low amateur at last year's British Open with a tie for 28th at Muirfield, a links course unlike Walton Heath.

It would hardly be a surprise if Zhang joins the ranks of recent first-time major winners in the women's game.

"There's a lot of mental toughness that you have to go through," Zhang, who is already ranked No. 32, said of the expectations on her, "and just learning how to be aware of that allows you to play well.

"I know that my game is there. I know that I have