Hometown hero Linn Grant has etched her name in the annals of golf history once again.
This time, she delivered an astonishing performance at the Volvo Car Scandinavian Mixed, producing the largest final-round comeback in DP World Tour history.
Overcoming an 11-stroke deficit, Grant claimed victory at Vasatorps Golfklubb by a single stroke, adding another chapter to her burgeoning legacy.
Two years ago, Grant made headlines as the first female winner of a DP World Tour event at this very tournament.
This year, she returned to her hometown of Helsingborg, playing with her brother Jonathan as her caddie, and staged a comeback that left the golf world in awe.
The Stage Was Set
Overnight, Sebastian Söderberg held an eight-stroke lead over his nearest challenger, Calum Hill.
Söderberg’s imperious form had propelled him to 21 under par after three rounds, seemingly setting the stage for a straightforward victory.
However, golf is a game of unpredictable twists, and Linn Grant was poised to rewrite the script.
Starting the final day at ten under par, Grant’s charge began with a flurry of six birdies in her first ten holes.
Her momentum continued to build, and she capped her remarkable round by chipping in from just off the green at the last hole, setting a clubhouse target of 17 under par.
Söderberg’s Stumble
As Grant’s final score was posted, Söderberg still had six holes to play. However, the pressure of closing out a tournament can be daunting, and Söderberg began to falter.
Bogeys on the 13th and 15th holes, followed by pars on the 16th and 17th, left him standing on the 18th tee with a tenuous one-stroke lead.
A strong drive positioned Söderberg well, but his approach shot found the greenside bunker.
From there, the wheels came off. His chip shot left him with a challenging par putt, which he left short.
The subsequent bogey putt lipped out, resulting in a closing double bogey and a round of 77, five over par.
Grant’s Glorious Moment
Unaware of Söderberg’s collapse, Grant was preparing for a potential playoff when she learned of her victory.
The win marked her sixth Ladies European Tour title and was particularly sweet given the hometown setting and the presence of her brother by her side.
Grant’s triumph set new records in DP World Tour history. No player had ever held an eight-stroke 54-hole lead and failed to win, and Grant’s 11-stroke comeback surpassed the previous record held by Paul Lawrie (1999 Open) and Jamie Spence (1992 Canon European Masters).
Linn Grant: “Very mixed emotions. Like I said before, I feel honestly terrible for Sebastian at the moment.”
“I don’t even have words for it. I can’t imagine how he feels. At the same time, I’m so surprised standing here as a winner again, in my home town. It’s amazing.
“Honestly, I just tried to go out today and give myself the opportunity. I didn’t think about the chance of winning, 11 shots is a huge gap.”
“I just wanted to go out, have fun, make as many birdies as possible and enjoy it with my brother on the bag and being at home.”
“(On 18). Unbelievable. I think I celebrated good enough when I was there, so I’m not looking back at that wishing it was me in the last group. It turned out to be an incredible day.”
“I’m so speechless. I can’t really believe it.”
The Final Standings
In the end, Söderberg finished in a tie for second with Scotsman Calum Hill at 16 under par.
Sweden’s Johanna Gustavsson tied for fourth place at 13 under, alongside English golfers Alex Fitzpatrick and Andy Sullivan.
Linn Grant’s victory in Helsingborg is a testament to her resilience, skill, and unyielding determination.
Her record-breaking comeback is not just a personal triumph but an inspiration to golfers everywhere.
As she continues to break barriers and set new standards, the golfing world will undoubtedly watch in anticipation of her next historic achievement.
