Linn Grant conquers The Annika with a dominant performance
Swedish golfer Linn Grant demonstrated exceptional control in her game, accumulating 52 consecutive holes without bogeys, a streak that ended on the final hole on Sunday, although it was already irrelevant. Grant closed with a score of 65 strokes, five under par, securing a three-stroke victory over Jennifer Kupcho at The Annika.
This victory represents Grant’s second LPGA title, and the second time she has received the trophy from the legendary Swedish golfer and tournament host, Annika Sorenstam. Grant had already won the Scandinavian Mixed in Sweden, an event co-organized by Sorenstam and Henrik Stenson.
“You made this field look easy. It’s not easy,” Sorenstam commented to Grant on the 18th hole green.
Annika Sorenstam
Grant’s performance was so solid that he barely felt any pressure. He finished the tournament with a total of 19 under par, 261 strokes, and was close to setting a new tournament record, until a bogey on the final hole, the first since the opening hole on Friday, prevented him from achieving it.
Grant expressed his satisfaction with the performance, highlighting the importance of turning good play into a victory and the satisfaction of closing the tournament with an outstanding performance.
Grant, who remembers attending Sorenstam’s clinics as a child, and having seen her practice with her wedges, thanked Sorenstam for the inspiration.Kupcho birdied the first hole, briefly tying for the lead, but Grant responded with a birdie on the next hole, and never relinquished the position again. Grant maintained the lead with a 15-foot birdie putt on the fifth hole, and then consolidated her dominance on the 9th hole, a par 3.
Kupcho made her second bogey in the first nine holes, while Grant made a 10-foot birdie putt to extend the lead to three strokes. No one got closer for the rest of the round.
Kupcho also closed with a round of 65 strokes.
Grant highlighted Kupcho’s competition as a factor that drove her to play better, and reflected on the importance of the victory for both golfers.
Gaby López, from Mexico, finished in third place after making birdies on four of the last six holes, completing a round of 65 strokes.
Brooke Matthews also had an outstanding performance, achieving a hole-in-one with a 9-iron from 140 yards on the 12th hole, winning a two-year lease for a Lamborghini Huracán. Two holes later, Matthews achieved an eagle, solidifying her excellent performance.
This performance, added to her round of 65 strokes, allowed her to tie for ninth place and secure enough points to enter the top 60 of the Race to the CME Globe, qualifying for next week’s CME Group Tour Championship, where the winner will receive 4 million dollars.
Nataliya Guseva also had her moment, achieving a birdie on the final hole from 109 yards, completing a round of 68 strokes that placed her in the top 60.
Lucy Li also advanced to next week in Naples. Her birdie on the final hole gave her a round of 66 strokes and moved her up 13 positions to 58th place.
Grant was close to maintaining his streak of annual victories since 2020, when he was still an amateur and won twice in the Nordic Golf League. He has earned titles on the LPGA, the Ladies European Tour, the LET Access Series, the Ladies Sunshine Tour, the Nordic Golf League, and even the European Tour, which co-sanctioned the Scandinavian Mixed.
Grant cited her father’s wise words, who used to say that winning every year is a solid achievement, something she has managed to maintain.
The defending champion, Nelly Korda, who had won three times at the Pelican Golf Club, started six strokes behind Grant and couldn’t keep up the pace. She finished with a round of 69 strokes, tying for 15th place.
