Linn Grant produced the greatest final round in European Tour history as he overcame an 11-stroke deficit to win the DP World Tour’s Scandinavian Mixed Championship for the second time in three years.
The 24-year-old started the final round 11 shots behind fellow Swede Sebastian Söderberg, who had led from the start of the tournament after shooting rounds of 63, 66 and 66 to gain what looked to be a no-doubt eight clear of the field. .
But Grant, who won the event again in 2022, had other ideas, going 31 shots and making birdies and the 10th and 18th holes – including going off the green at the end – for bogey. -free 65 to post a clubhouse lead of 17-under-par at Vasatorps Golfklubb. That total was still three strokes behind Söderberg, who was 20 under with six holes to play.
But the leader reeled under the pressure of leading for so long, making bogeys at 13 and 15, before reaching the 18th when his lead was cut to one. After finding his fairway and tee shot on the 450-yard par 4 hole, Soderberg’s approach connected to the greenside bunker. He teed off to 25 feet, but then took three shots to go down – missing an 18-inch putt to force a play-off – and posted a double-bogey six and a disappointing closing five-over 77 .
Grant was preparing for the opportunity to play when word of her victory reached the distance as she defended her sixth Ladies European Tour title and her second title against her male counterparts.
Grant, his win was even sweeter given that he was competing in his hometown of Helsingborg with his brother Jonathan as caddy. he said: “I have very mixed feelings right now. I’m honestly scared of Sebastian right now. I don’t even have the words for it. I can’t imagine how you feel. At the same time, I am very surprised when I stand here as a winner again, in my hometown. It’s amazing.
“Honestly, I just tried to go out today and give myself a chance. I didn’t think about the chance of winning – 11 shots is a big gap. I wanted to go out, have fun, make as many birdies as possible and enjoy my brother in the bag and being home.
“The chip-in on the 18th was unbelievable. I think I celebrated well enough when I was there, so I don’t look back on that and wish it was me in the final group. It was an amazing day.”
RECORD BACK
The result sent records tumbling as no player had ever led eight 54-holes on the European Tour without winning, and Grant’s 11-stroke deficit now became the largest, surpassing Paul Lawrie’s ten-stroke comeback (The 1999 Open) and Jamie Spence (1992 Canon European Masters).
Söderberg finished tied for second with Scotland’s Calum Hill on 16 under par, with Sweden’s Johanna Gustavsson tied for fourth on 13 under with Englishmen Alex Fitzpatrick and Andy Sullivan.
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