Swedish golfer Linn Grant demonstrated exceptional dominance in her game, accumulating 52 consecutive holes without bogeys, an impressive streak that came to an end on the final hole of the tournament, although without consequences for her victory. Grant closed with a score of 65 strokes under par, securing the triumph with three strokes ahead of Jennifer Kupcho in the prestigious tournament. This is Grant’s second title on the LPGA, and the second time she has received the trophy from the legendary Swedish golfer Annika Sorenstam, host of the tournament. Previously, Grant won the Scandinavian Mixed in Sweden, an event co-hosted by Sorenstam and Henrik Stenson. “You made this field look easy. It’s not easy,” Sorenstam told her on the 18th green. For Grant, the feeling must have been one of absolute control, as he never faced too much pressure. He finished the tournament with a total of 261 strokes, 19 under par, and was close to setting a new tournament record until a bogey on the final hole, the first since the opening hole on Friday, broke his streak.
Grant is the first Swedish golfer to win this tournament, which began in 2020. This achievement has special meaning for her, as she remembers attending Sorenstam’s clinics in Sweden as a child, and even remembers watching Sorenstam practice wedge shots for someone to catch with a baseball glove.“There are weeks when everyone feels like their game is really good and there could be a win. It’s really nice to see it through to the end and be able to walk down the 18th hole and be able to pat yourself on the back and feel like you really did it this week,” Grant stated.
Linn Grant
“I started doing that with my dad, so thanks for that,” Grant told Sorenstam.
Linn Grant
Mexican Gaby López also had an outstanding performance, with four birdies in the last six holes, finishing in third place with a score of 65 strokes. Brooke Matthews also celebrated a double triumph. She achieved a hole-in-one with a 9-iron from 140 yards on the 12th hole, winning a two-year lease of a Lamborghini Huracán. Two holes later, Matthews achieved an eagle, further consolidating her great performance. This was added to her card of 65 strokes, which included scores of 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6, allowing her to tie for ninth place and earn enough points to move up to the top 60 of the Race to the CME Globe, qualifying for next week’s CME Group Tour Championship, where the winner will take home $4 million. “It was incredible,” Matthews said. “All week I was thinking, ‘I want to win the Lamborghini.’… I just saw it bounce. I still can’t believe it. I blacked out. I can’t wait to see it on video because I still can’t really remember it.” Nataliya Guseva also had her stellar moment, holing out with a wedge shot from 109 yards on the final hole for birdie, achieving a 68 that placed her among the top 60. Lucy Li also advanced to next week in Naples. Her birdie on the final hole gave her a 66 and moved her up 13 places, to number 58. Grant was about to run out of time to extend his streak of annual victories, which dates back to 2020, when he was still an amateur and won twice on the Nordic Golf League. She has earned titles on the LPGA, the Ladies European Tour, the LET Access Series, the Ladies Sunshine Tour, the Nordic Golf League, and even on the European Tour, which co-sanctioned the Scandinavian Mixed.“I’m glad she was playing well because I think that really pushed me to play better. And overall, I just thought whoever won was going to do a really good job,” Grant said.
Linn Grant
Defending champion Nelly Korda, a three-time winner at Pelican Golf Club, started six strokes back and couldn’t keep pace with Grant. She closed with a 69 and tied for 15th.“My father is a man of good words,” she said. “When he watched someone else’s career, he always said: ‘If you win every year, that’s pretty solid.’ I guess that’s what it is.”
Linn Grant
