Defending champion Linn Grant and 10-time DP World Tour winner Alex Noren have confirmed they will tee it up at the Scandinavian Mixed at Ullna Golf & Club near Stockholm from June 8-11.
Hosted by 10-time Major Champion Annika Sörenstam, the tournament was a first-of-its-kind event when it was staged in 2021 and sees 78 men and 78 women compete on the same course for one prize fund and one trophy.
Co-sanctioned by the DP World Tour and the Ladies European Tour, home favourite Grant made history at Halmstad Golf Club in 2022 as the first female winner of the event, storming to a nine-stroke victory on home soil.
The 23-year-old Swede had a season to remember in 2022 going on to win the ‘LET Rookie of the Year’ after claiming four victories in her first year on Tour and was crowned the Race to Costa del Sol champion, following in the footsteps of fellow Swede Sörenstam.
“I’m really excited to come back and defend my title in front of Swedish fans,” said Grant.
Linn Grant
“I played the first round with Annika last year and it was such an incredible experience to win against a mixed field. It’s a unique event and I am proud that Sweden is pushing to bring female and male golfers together both on and off the golf course.
“I think my victory last year was a big step in our sport and I hope it brings women’s golf into the spotlight and it gets people’s eyes on us a little bit more. To be able to speak Swedish and hear everyone out there cheering for you, it was amazing, and I can’t wait to get back in June to defend my title.”
Ryder Cup star Noren will return to his hometown of Stockholm for the mixed tournament and is excited to tee it up in front of family and friends, as he aims to impress the Swedish fans.
“I’m looking forward to coming back to Sweden,” said Noren, a previous winner of his home open in 2011 and 2015. “I played last year and thought it was amazing. Linn Grant obviously ran away with it and she played unbelievable, but I think the tournament is really great and I am proud it is taking place in Sweden.
“Going to Stockholm, especially to Ullna, it’s a really cool place right on a lake with very interesting holes, and it will be good for both the men and women in competition mode.
“Being in Sweden and being a dad to a little girl, I like for women to have the same opportunities. I grew up watching an LET event at my home course and we loved it as kids trying to get their balls after 18, and just watch them play.”
Sörenstam added: “Linn and Alex are fantastic golfers in their own right, both proven winners on the global stage, and both are even better people, so I look forward to welcoming them to Stockholm for this fantastic tournament. Linn played our ANNIKA Foundation events as a junior, so it was really special to see her win last year. The Volvo Car Scandinavian Mixed is so unique and I know the fans in Sweden will come out to support both the men and women this summer.”
