Swede success for Linn Grant with historic first female win on DP World Tour

Swede Linn Grant poses with the trophy after winning the Volvo Car Scandinavian Mixed Hosted by Henrik & Annika at Halmstad Golf Club. Picture: Naomi Baker/Getty Images.

Linn Grant, a Swede with a rich Scottish storyline, created history in style as she became the first female winner on the DP World Tour after storming to a nine-shot success in the Scandinavian Mixed in Sweden.

The 22-year-old, already a two-time winner on the Ladies European Tour this season, held a two-shot lead heading into the final round at Halmstad Golf Club and never came close to wobbling.

In an event hosted by Annika Sorenstam and Henrik Stenson involving men and women playing over the same course for one prize fund, Grant birdied five of the opening six holes on her way to a brilliant bogey-free 64.

She ended the week on 24-under-par, nine clear of both Stenson (70) and Marc Warren as the Scot resdiscovered his form with a closing 65 that saw him storm home in five-under.

Linn Grant celebrates on the 18th green after holing the winning putt with her boyfriend and caddie Pontus Samuelsson. Picture: Naomi Baker/Getty Images.

The week well and truly belonged to Grant, though, as she left the men trailing in her wake and women, too, with her nearest female challenger - England’s Gabriella Cowley - finishing 14 shots behind.

"It's huge,” said Grant of becoming a history-maker in the game. “Just playing at home and having the crowds here, my family by my side, boyfriend on the bag - it's crazy and I'm proud of myself.

"I just hope that people recognise women's golf, more sponsors go to the LET and hopefully this pumps up the women's game a little bit more.”

Grant’s grandfather, James, was a professional from Inverness before emigrating to Helsingborg in Sweden.

She won the 2017 British Amateur Stroke Play Championship at North Berwick - the same venue where her grandfather won the Scottish Boys’ Championship 49 years previously.

That was Linn’s second triumph on Scottish soil that year, having also landed the Helen Holm Scottish Women's Open at Troon.

In its inaugural staging last year, the Scandinavian Mixed event had been won by Northern Ireland’s Jonathan Caldwell, but Grant, who looks as though she’s set to become Swedish golf’s next superstar, quickly levelled the scores up.

"For sure - the most important thing!” she replied to being asked if she’d set out with that aim in mind, having underlined her talent by winning both the Joburg Ladies Open and Belgian Ladies Open this year.

"It's a nice feeling. All week I just felt like it's the girls against the guys and whoever picks up that trophy represents the field."

Grant, who played in the event last year as an amateur before turning professional in August, has now carded her eighth consecutive round in the 60s.

“I was actually surprisingly calm on the first tee,” she admitted. “My first day with Annika was my most scary and stressful one, so today on the first fairway I told Pontus (her boyfriend and caddie) that I was very calm and it’s very doable today to play with this.

“I felt happy and relieved and to be able to get in the zone and just enjoy golf for a last day was very nice."

Stenson and Sorenstam both heaped praise on Grant, who played in the 2017 PING Junior Solheim Cup and went to Arizona State University.

“There was just one player out there today and she played amazing,” said Stenson, the 2017 Open champion. “Every time I looked back, she was in prime position.

“She just gave herself birdie chance one after another, I would imagine, so there wasn’t much I could do against a player like that, so very well played and congratulations to Linn.”

Former women’s world No 1 Sorenstam said: "I want to congratulate Linn for a dominate performance. It means a lot for the tournament moving forward."