Linn Grant conquers The Annika: Second LPGA title and golf exhibition

Linn Grant conquers The Annika with impressive dominance

Swedish golfer Linn Grant demonstrated exceptional control in her game, achieving a streak of 52 consecutive holes without bogeys, until she finally conceded on the final hole of the tournament. Grant closed with a score of 65 strokes under par, securing a victory with a three-stroke lead over Jennifer Kupcho at The Annika. This triumph represents Grant’s second LPGA title, and she again 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-hosted 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 remarkable, finishing with a total of 19 under par, 261 strokes. Although he suffered a bogey on the last hole, his performance was impeccable from the start of the tournament. “There are weeks when you feel like your game is really good and that you could potentially win. It’s very nice to see everything go well and be able to walk down the 18th hole and feel like I really achieved it this week,” Grant expressed. Grant, who remembers attending Sorenstam’s clinics as a child, is the first Swedish golfer to win this tournament since its inception in 2020.

Kupcho, after an initial birdie, couldn’t keep up the pace. Grant, with a birdie on the next hole, took the lead and didn’t let go. A 15-foot birdie putt on the fifth hole kept Grant on top, and a birdie on the ninth extended his lead to three strokes, a distance that no one could shorten. Kupcho also finished with a round of 65 strokes. Grant highlighted the motivation that Kupcho’s competition gave him. Gaby Lopez from Mexico, with four birdies in the last six holes, finished in third place with a round of 65. Brooke Matthews also had a memorable day, achieving a hole-in-one that earned her a two-year lease for a Lamborghini Huracán. In addition, she achieved an eagle, which led her to tie for ninth place and secure her place among the top 60 in the Race to the CME Globe, qualifying for the CME Group Tour Championship. Nataliya Guseva also had her moment, with a birdie on the last hole, which allowed her to move up in the standings. Lucy Li, with a birdie on the final hole, also secured her place in next week’s tournament. Grant, with this victory, continues his streak of annual triumphs since 2020. Her father, like her, values consistency and annual victory as a significant achievement. The defending champion, Nelly Korda, couldn’t keep up the pace and finished in 15th place.