Sweden’s Linn Grant grabs first LPGA title

WASHINGTON – Linn Grant of Sweden capped off a memorable week at the Dana Open by capturing her first LPGA title on Sunday in Sylvania, Ohio.

The 24-year-old shot a three-under 68 in the final round to post the winning score of 21-under 263 at Highland Meadows Golf Club, three shots ahead of runner-up Allisen Corpuz. She entered the day with a six-stroke lead after firing a 62 in the third round.

“I think I could be a bit more relaxed,” she said of the big lead. “But I knew this course was very scoreable. So in my mind, I was just thinking someone was going to shoot the same score I did yesterday. Obviously, the conditions are a bit tougher today, but that was my game plan and my mindset coming into today.”

Grant has won five times on the Ladies European Tour – four times in 2022 and once this past May – but had yet to win in the United States. “I’ve been thinking about it all day,” she said on the CBS broadcast.

“I think I’ve imagined this day so many times in so many ways in my own mind. Just being here now, I’m so speechless. At the same time, I feel familiar with the setting for some reason. It’s just so fun.”

After Grant’s third-round 62 featured eight birdies, an eagle and a bogey to help her flirt with a historic 59, she started her final round with seven straight pars before a birdie at the par-three eighth.

Birdies at the par-four 11th and 13th holes helped offset her only bogey of the day at the par-three 14th. She held a two-stroke cushion by the time she reached the final hole, a par five, where she two-putted for birdie.

Now she will take added confidence into the next two Majors of the season, the Evian Championship in France and the Women’s British Open.

“I feel like I’m in great form at the moment,” she said. “I really like that (Evian) golf course. I’m really excited to go back and play there again.”

Corpuz, a week removed from her breakthrough US Women’s Open victory, carded a bogey-free 65, her lowest round of the week. Five of her six birdies came over the final eight holes.

“Linn’s a solid player and a six-shot lead is tough to overcome,” said the 25-year-old American, who was focused on rest and recovery after her whirlwind week at Pebble Beach. “So I really just tried to come out and just give it my best shot.”

American Lindy Duncan also shot a 65 to finish in a distant third place at 15 under. Lin Xiyu (67) of China and Australia’s Stephanie Kyriacou (69) tied for fourth at 14 under, and Maria Fassi (70) of Mexico was sixth at 13 under.

Kyriacou played alongside Grant and said the experience added to an instructive week.

“I learnt a whole lot about the mental side of golf,” she said of the week. “How to deal with nerves and all that stuff. So a lot of things to take away from this week, even though one wasn’t a trophy.”
REUTERS, AFP