Linn Grant Secures Maiden LPGA Tour Victory at Dana Open
The 24-year-old Swede won by three shots over newly-crowned US Women's Open champion, Allisen Corpuz
Linn Grant captured her maiden LPGA Tour victory as she saw off the challenge of US Women’s Open champion, Allisen Corpuz, to win by three shots at the Dana Open in Ohio.
The 24-year-old Swede, who graduated from Arizona State in 2021, has enjoyed a remarkable rise in her first two season, with this win her ninth as a professional. Despite winning four times in her rookie year on the Ladies European Tour in 2022, Grant had been unable to compete in America due to her Covid-19 vaccination status.
However, with restrictions finally lifted in May allowing unvaccinated foreigners to visit the country, Grant competed for the first time in America at the Bank of Hope LPGA Match-Play in May.
Now, in just her fourth US start, Grant has become an LPGA Tour winner for the first time having shot a solid three-under-par 68 to finish the tournament at -21.
"I think I've imagined this day so many times in so many ways in my own mind," Grant said after her victory on Sunday. "Just being here now, I'm just so speechless and at the same time I feel familiar with the setting for some reason. But it's just so fun."
Having opened with rounds of 64 and 69, the young Swede made her charge on Saturday with a blistering nine-under-par round of 62, with a bogey on 16 ultimately scuppering any chances of becoming the first person since Annika Sorenstam to shoot a 59 on the LPGA Tour.
Heading into Sunday, Grant had a six-shot lead and opened with seven straight pars before a chip-in birdie on the par-three 8th maintaining her advantage over the field.
Get the Golf Monthly Newsletter
Subscribe to the Golf Monthly newsletter to stay up to date with all the latest tour news, equipment news, reviews, head-to-heads and buyer’s guides from our team of experienced experts.
A post shared by LPGA Tour (@lpga_tour)
A photo posted by on
“I think for me I just really have to go out and have a plan, just as I have on day one, two and three. In my mind, I'm still thinking that someone could come from behind and shoot a 9-under. And so in my head, I still had to shoot 2-, 3-under today.”
Birdies on 11 and 13 were cancelled out by a bogey on 14, but Grant held steady with a par save on 16 and birdie at the last ensuring Corpuz’s back-nine charge would fall short.
The American, competing the week after her historic first Major triumph at Pebble Beach, made five birdies in her last eight holes but ultimately ended up three back of Grant in second.
“Coming to this course after Pebble, just a few more birdie opportunities. I think I just really took advantage of that,” Corpuz said.
Ben joined Golf Monthly having completed his NCTJ in multimedia sports journalism at News Associates, London. He is now a freelance journalist who also works for The Independent, Metro, UEFA and Stats Perform.
-
Alfred Dunhill Championship Odds, Picks And Predictions
Check out the Golf Monthly news team's picks and our selected bookmaker's tournament odds for the penultimate DP World Tour event of the calendar year
By Jonny Leighfield Published
-
The Equipment Change That Gained Justin Thomas 10 Yards At Hero World Challenge
Justin Thomas produced a fine performance in the Bahamas partly down to a change of driver shaft that resulted in added distance off the tee
By Matt Cradock Published
-
Nelly Korda One Of Three Golfers In Highest-Paid Female Athletes 2024 As Tennis Continues To Dominate
Korda topped the total earnings for a female golfer in 2024, but one of her rivals picked up more money from on-course achievements...
By Jonny Leighfield Published
-
‘Every Time I Would Think About It Or I'd Have Them Conversations, I Would Get A Little Bit Upset' - Amy Boulden Opens Up On Retirement Decision
Amy Boulden officially retired from pro golf recently but shared that she is not completely closed off to the idea of making tour starts again one day...
By Jonny Leighfield Published
-
'The Greatest Achievement I’ve Earned In My Life Taken From Me” - Transgender Golfer Hailey Davidson Responds To LPGA Ban
Transgender golfer Hailey Davidson has responded to being banned by the LPGA with several posts on social media crtitcizing the decision
By Paul Higham Published
-
'I'd Rather Fail At Golf Than Motherhood' - Why Amy Olson Retired Around 30 (And Many Of Her Peers Have Done The Same)
Former LPGA Tour pro Amy Olson explains why female players are more likely to suffer from burnout at an earlier age than their male counterparts
By Jonny Leighfield Published
-
Transgender Golfer Hailey Davidson Banned From LPGA After Gender Policy Update
The LPGA has updated a key policy meaning that from the 2025 season, athletes who transitioned following puberty will not be allowed to play in its competitions
By Mike Hall Published
-
LPGA Tour Final Qualifying - All The Details You Need To Know
It's all to play for at Magnolia Grove Golf Course, as 25 players will earn LPGA Tour cards for 2025 in what promises to be an enthralling watch
By Matt Cradock Published
-
Women In Golf Awards 2024 - Meet The Winners
The third annual Women in Golf Awards recently took place at Surrey's Foxhills Golf and Country Club. Who were the winners?
By Elliott Heath Published
-
Former Pro Amy Olson Says It's 'Not Right' That LPGA Founders' Work Is Being 'Hijacked' By Transgender Golfers
Olson is one of 275 players to have signed a letter addressed to the LPGA Tour which asks for a change in the circuit's gender participation policy
By Jonny Leighfield Published