Linn Grant made yet more history as she won the Volvo Car Scandinavian Mixed for the second time, chasing down overnight leader Sebastian Söderberg courtesy of a flawless final-round 65 in her hometown of Helsingborg.
Grant, who became the first female winner in DP World Tour history at this event two years ago, started the day 11 shots behind runaway 54-hole leader Söderberg.
But as he slipped backwards throughout the afternoon, Grant made seven birdies and no bogeys to set the clubhouse target at 17 under.
And with her countryman Söderberg finishing his final-round 77 with a double-bogey at the 18th to miss out on a playoff, Grant earned her second DP World Tour title in dramatic circumstances, winning by a single shot.
Söderberg finished in joint-second alongside Scotland’s Calum Hill on 16 under, with Swedish Ladies European Tour star Johanna Gustavsson three shots further back in a tie for fourth with Englishmen Alex Fitzpatrick and Andy Sullivan.
South Africa’s Dylan Frittelli ended on eight under (T29) after carding 72, with countryman Louis de Jager (68) a further shot behind.
Grant flew out of the blocks on day four, making four birdies in five holes from the second to close the gap.
The 24-year-old took dead aim at the 9th to set up a six-foot birdie before holing from 15 feet on the 10th for back-to-back birdies.
Grant gave herself further chances down the stretch but could not add to her birdie count until the 18th, where she chipped in from the bank around the green to finish with a flourish.
“I’m so surprised,” she said. “Standing here, now as a winner again in my hometown. Amazing.
“Honestly I just tried to go out today and give myself an opportunity. I didn’t even think that I had the chance of winning – 11 shots is a huge gap.
“So I just wanted to go out, have fun and make as many birdies as possible. And enjoy it with my brother on the bag and being at home. It turned out to be an incredible day.”
Grant’s hole-out birdie on the last proved to be the shot that won her the tournament and saw her become the first woman to win twice on the DP World Tour.
“It was unbelievable. I think I celebrated it good enough when I was there. So I’m not looking back on that wishing it was me on the last hole.”
The Swedish flag featured prominently on the leaderboard as three home players finished in the top four.
“It’s amazing playing on home soil and seeing a lot of players play so well,” Grant said. “I think it shows all the fans coming out here that we really enjoy playing at home.
“We’re all very happy at the moment. Just finding a way to celebrate tonight and have a nice week off.”
– Edited report from DP World website
Photo: Valerio Pennicino/Getty Images
