HELSINGBORG, Sweden - Sun Devil Women's Golf All-American Linn Grant (2019-21) captured another historic victory, becoming the first female to win twice on the DP World Tour.
In a field with 156 professional male and female golfers, Grant earned the 2024 Volvo Cars Scandinavian Mixed title in her hometown of Helsingborg, Sweden at Vasatorps Golfklubb. This is the second time Grant has won this event. The last time was in 2022, when she became the first female golfer in the 50-year history of the European Tour (now named the DP World Tour) to win an event. Now she makes history yet again as the first female to win TWO events on the DP World Tour.
"Linn winning this event for the second time that has both men and women top European pros is outstanding," Sun Devil Women's Golf Head Coach Missy Farr-Kaye remarked. "And she won in her hometown, which I know means a lot to her to be able to celebrate in front of her family and friends. Our Sun Devil family is so excited for her!"
The 24-year-old emerging start began the day 11 shots behind fellow Swede Sebastian Söderberg, who had led from the start of the tournament. Grant fired a bogey-free 65 (-7) on the final day to post the clubhouse lead of 17-under-par. Söderberg would go on to miss his bogey putt on the final hole and drop to second place, with Grant eagerly watching while also preparing for a potential playoff.
"Honestly, I just tried to go out today and give myself the opportunity," Grant told LPGA.com after the round. "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.
The 2022 Solheim Cup star made back-to-back birdies on holes two and three, holes five and six, and holes nine and ten. Her final birdie of the day came at the last when Grant chipped in from the rough and that ultimately was the shot that won her sixth LET title. This is Grant's second DP World Tour victory in her fourth appearance, all of which have come at the Volvo Car Scandinavian Mixed. Her comeback from 11 shots in the final round is the largest ever on the DP World Tour.
"Standing now here, as a winner again, in my hometown is amazing," Grant reflected.
Despite turning pro just over a three years ago, this is already the 11th professional win for Grant, who has won on every tour she has competed on. She rises to sixth on the Ladies European Tour's Order of Merit despite competing in the fewest LET events (2) of anyone in the Top-10. She trails Sun Devil Alexandra Forsterling, who is second in the race for the LET Player of the Year.
Grant continues to add to her career earnings, raking in over $335,000 worth of prize money awarded to the champion. She now has over $1.7 million in career earnings from professional golf, a figure that already puts her 215th all-time in the history of the sport. Only former Stanford standout Rose Zhang has collected more money in few events than Grant, as she is in the midst of one of the best starts to a professional career in recent history. Grant adds to the over $45 million of total earnings from Sun Devils at the professional level. Thanks to the victory, she is now No. 27 in the latest Rolex Women's World Golf Rankings.
Looking ahead to the 2024 Solheim Cup, Sun Devils currently occupy three of the Top-4 spots for Team Europe (Forsterling - 2nd; Grant - 3rd; Carlota Ciganda - 4th). Several Sun Devils have also put themselves in contention for a spot in the 2024 Summer Olympics Games taking place in Paris in July. The Final Olympic rankings are released and the team's are announced June 24th. Arizona State is in position to be well represented in France, with the following Sun Devils currently finding themselves above the Top-60 cut line with only a few weeks to go:
POTENTIAL SUN DEVIL OLYMPIANS
No. 19 Linn Grant, Sweden
No. 20 Carlota Ciganda, Spain
No. 24 Alexandra Forsterling, Germany
No. 32 Azahara Munoz, Spain
No. 48 Alessandra Fanali, Italy
LINN GRANT PROFESSIONAL WINS
This is Grant's sixth victory on the Ladies European Tour (LET) and 11th as a professional, with victories also on the LPGA, Sunshine Ladies Tour and LET Access Series.
October 9, 2021 - Terre Blanche Ladies Open (LET Access Series)
February 13, 2022 - Dimension Data Ladies Challenge (Sunshine)
February 25, 2022 - Jabra Ladies Classic (Sunshine)
March 26, 2022 - Joburg Ladies Open (LET/Sunshine)
May 29, 2022 - Mithra Belgian Ladies Open (LET)
June 12, 2022 - Volvo Car Scandinavian Mixed (LET/DP World Tour)
August 28, 2022 - Skafto Open (LET)
May 13, 2023 - Jabra Ladies Open (LET)
July 16, 2023 - Dana Open (LPGA)
June 9, 2024 - Volvo Car Scandinavian Mixed (LET/DP World Tour)
Her fellow Sun Devil and Swedish product Linnea Strom enjoyed a successful Sunday comeback of her own, winning the 2024 ShopRite LPGA Classic after starting the final day seven shots behind.
"What a great day for our Sun Devil Pro Alums," Coach Farr-Kaye added. "Two completely different stories on different continents. It shows you the reach and global impact that the Sun Devil Women's Golf program has at the professional level."
SOCIAL MEDIA BUZZ
It's history AGAIN for Linn Grant on the DP World Tour!
— DP World Tour (@DPWorldTour) June 9, 2024
With the biggest final day comeback on Tour, she wins the Volvo Car Scandinavian Mixed for a second time in three years.#VolvoScandinavianMixed pic.twitter.com/ZgNItixKIw
Linn Grant, the only woman in history to have won on the DP World Tour, now has TWO titles to her name ??#VolvoScandinavianMixed pic.twitter.com/oNtmE0vNnI
— DP World Tour (@DPWorldTour) June 9, 2024
She continues to write history ??
— Ladies European Tour (@LETgolf) June 9, 2024
Linn Grant wins the Volvo Car Scandinavian Mixed 2024!#RaiseOurGame | #VolvoScandinavianMixed pic.twitter.com/huHgr5ktqe
She does what she wants ??
— Ladies European Tour (@LETgolf) June 9, 2024
A chip-in to finish for Linn Grant, she's 3 back on -17????#RaiseOurGame | #VolvoScandinavianMixed pic.twitter.com/ynAEx6vrT3
"She's history maker again"
— DP World Tour (@DPWorldTour) June 9, 2024
The moment Linn Grant became a TWO-time winner on the DP World Tour ??#VolvoScandinavianMixed pic.twitter.com/oNHQSvIEhD
Linn Grant, the first woman to win on the DP World Tour, just DID IT AGAIN. pic.twitter.com/N6uvqe6yCL
— Golf Channel (@GolfChannel) June 9, 2024
Class on and off the course from Linn Grant??#RaiseOurGame | #VolvoScandinavianMixed pic.twitter.com/Itu8obq8qF
— Ladies European Tour (@LETgolf) June 10, 2024
?????????????? ???????? ??????
— Ladies European Tour (@LETgolf) June 11, 2024
Following becoming the first woman to win twice on the @DPWorldTour & securing the biggest comeback (11 shots) on the DP World Tour, Linn Grant has moved up to 27th on the @ROLEX Rankings ???#RaiseOurGame | #RolexRankings pic.twitter.com/G8ZpgP1sPf
Pretty good day for Swedes who played for @SunDevilWGolf ???? pic.twitter.com/1HPf3SRQRb
— Madison Kerley (@madisondkerley) June 9, 2024
Over a minute of Linn Grant slo-mos.
— DP World Tour (@DPWorldTour) June 10, 2024
You're welcome ??#VolvoScandinavianMixed pic.twitter.com/K49LBzZAnE
Linn Grant's swing is fun to watch. One of the smoothest swings in golf.
— Tour Pro ?????? (@OfficialTourPro) June 9, 2024
pic.twitter.com/1T2uFxFApb
Linn Grant might have the best swing in golf. Pure perfection ??????
— Flushing It (@flushingitgolf) June 9, 2024
pic.twitter.com/q3PLqRdxNp
WHILE AT ASU
Two-time First Team All-American Linn Grant made the most of her time in Tempe, putting together one of the best two-year careers of any player in NCAA history. The native of Viken, Sweden came to Arizona State as a highly-touted recruit and immediately lived up to the expectations. After completing one of the best freshman seasons by a Sun Devil, Grant managed to build upon that with a brilliant sophomore season.
Grant put together a debut 2019-20 season that put her on the national collegiate map and belongs in the discussion of one of the top freshman campaigns in school history. She was recognized as a WGCA First Team All-American and Golfweek Second Team All-American after finishing in the Top-10 at five of her seven tournaments. She took home individual medalist honors while leading her team to a victory at the Dr. Donnis Thompson Invitational, the only Sun Devil to pick up an individual win in 2020.
It was a breakout sophomore season that cemented her legacy as one of the all-time greats. She reached the No. 1 spot in the Golfstat Rankings heading into the 2021 NCAA Championship, the first in program history to do so. The two-time WGCA Player of the Year candidate and 2021 ANNIKA Finalist was the Pac-12 Golfer of the Month in March of 2021 and a First Team All-Conference selection this past year. She led Arizona State to their second Match Play appearance in program history at the 2021 NCAA Championships, with the Sun Devils finishing tied for fifth, the highest finish since the 2017 National Championship run.
The consistency shown by Grant was a big reason why she racked up so many accolades, as she finished in the Top-10 in 12 of 16 career events. At the 2021 Clover Cup, Grant became only the second Sun Devil in program history to win four consecutive tournaments, a streak that dated back to a win last season at the Dr. Donnis Thompson Invitational. She joined Brandie Burton from the legendary 1989-90 season, which resulted in Arizona State's first women's golf NCAA Championship. In that span, Grant also won the Bruin Wave Invitational and Sun Devil Winter Classic, putting her in elite company with three wins in a single-season.
Under the tutelage of Head Coach Missy Farr-Kaye, Grant thrived like many European players to recently come through the Sun Devil program. The relationship and bond that was built with the coaching staff was a key reason why Grant decided to come to ASU and improve her game.
HOW TO FOLLOW
For the latest updates and information on the Sun Devil Women's Golf program, follow our X/Instagram accounts (@SunDevilWGolf), like our Facebook page (facebook.com/sundevilwgolf/), and visit our website (thesundevils.com). Find Coach Farr-Kaye (@missymkaye) and Coach Tatman (@CoachMikayla_) on X as well. Congratulate Linn Grant on Instagram (@linngrant).