Sebastian Söderberg ignited his home crowd at the Volvo Car Scandinavian Mixed with a scintillating opening round.
The Swede carded a sensational nine under par 63, seizing a two-stroke lead and electrifying Vasatorps Golfklubb in Helsingborg.
For Söderberg, currently ranked fifth in the Race to Dubai Rankings in partnership with Rolex, this stellar performance is a continuation of his red-hot form, having secured two runner-up finishes and a third place in his last four starts.
Söderberg’s round was a masterclass in precision and calm under pressure. He began with back-to-back birdies on the first and second holes, setting the tone early. By the turn, he had added two more birdies to go four under par.
His back nine was equally impressive, highlighted by a birdie on the tenth, an eagle on the par-five 12th, and two additional birdies to cap off a flawless 63.
His impeccable play left the crowd in awe and his competitors scrambling to keep pace.
Sebastian Söderberg: “I felt like I hit my driver a little longer than I usually do and that gave me a few shorter clubs in.”
“Every miss was in the right spot and I gave myself a lot of good chances. The putter was quite hot.”
“(The greens) I felt like I struggled a little bit earlier in the week, just seeing the lines and the colour of the grass. But today was a little easier. I hit some good putts on the lines I chose and made a few good ones.
“There’s a lot of family and friends here. It’s easy to put extra pressure on yourself wanting to play good in front of them.”
“I did feel a little extra adrenaline on the first tee, which doesn’t happen that often on a Thursday. I got off to a good start and it was nice to have everyone out there the whole day.”
Chasing Söderberg are South Africa’s Dylan Frittelli and England’s Alex Fitzpatrick, both delivering bogey-free rounds of 65 to sit two strokes behind at seven under par.
Frittelli, who recently clinched his third DP World Tour title at the Bahrain Championship, demonstrated the form that has made him a formidable competitor this season.
Fitzpatrick, showcasing his consistency, matched Frittelli’s score and kept his chances alive heading into the next rounds.
Just one stroke behind them is Malaysia’s Gavin Green, who posted a solid six under par.
The nearest female challengers are past champion and local favourite Linn Grant and Ireland’s Lauren Walsh, both tied at five under par alongside South Africa’s Louis de Jager and the Scottish duo of Scott Jamieson and David Law.
The Volvo Car Scandinavian Mixed continues to break new ground as an innovative tournament co-sanctioned by the DP World Tour and the Ladies European Tour.
With 78 men and 78 women competing on the same course for a single prize fund and trophy, it’s a true test of skill and composure, where every shot counts and every player has a chance to shine.
Söderberg’s performance has set a high bar for the rest of the field, but in a tournament as unpredictable and thrilling as the Volvo Car Scandinavian Mixed, anything can happen.
As the competition heats up, golf fans can expect more dazzling displays and fierce battles for the top spot.
With players like Söderberg leading the charge, the tournament promises to be a captivating spectacle from start to finish.
