At 35 years old, life, golf, and of course his good play this week, have granted him an opportunity that seemed unthinkable less than a month ago. Bjørn Hellgren has won one of the three spots for LIV Golf 2026 this Sunday thanks to his second place in the LIV Golf Promotions.
Hellgren is not a complete unknown, but almost. Swedish, trained at Florida State, university teammate and curiously a personal friend of Brooks Koepka, his professional resume until yesterday was so modest that it’s hard to believe he now has a direct ticket to the Saudi circuit.
After two years at university, he decided to make the leap in 2013. In his first tournament as a professional, he achieved a victory that promised great things. It wasn’t to be. After several promotions and relegations between the Nordic Pro Tour and the Challenge Tour, at 35 he has barely played nine tournaments on the DP World Tour, including an Open de España where he missed the cut, and as mentioned, much more experience on the Challenge Tour. He also had two unsuccessful attempts in the third stage of the School. The closest to a major breakthrough was a fourth place in the Nordea Masters almost ten years ago. That and little else.
Three years ago, Hellgren went to Asia to work hard and literally search for that breakthrough that wasn’t coming. He begged Koepka to be a reserve on his team, as he has acknowledged, but his friend asked him first to achieve good results and win a tournament. Bjorn moved to Thailand and got to work. He won, but he did so in Saudi Arabia, in December, just a month ago. His friend didn’t have time to keep his word as he left LIV just a few days later. We don’t know if he could have pleased his friend, but Bjorn seized the opportunity at the School and didn’t let it pass.
Hellgren arrived at the final day knowing there was no middle ground. “I had to go all out,” he explained to the media afterwards. “I started well with two birdies, but I cooled down and began to struggle, however, I felt that the others were having a harder time than me, that lifted me up.” The player acknowledges that everything clicked in the last holes. Two long putts sank, the best card of the day, and the dream was already a reality: “It’s crazy to be here right now,” he admitted, still looking as if he couldn’t quite believe it.
Ironies of fate. Curiously, his opportunity comes just as Koepka leaves the tour. Three years knocking on the door as a reserve and the gap opens just as the friend leaves. Golf also has a sense of humour.
There is a key point in this feat. The victory in Saudi in December changed his mindset. “I didn’t believe I could win at this level and that week something changed in my head,” he admits bluntly. He also recently became a father and the end of 2025 and this start is undoubtedly his most stellar moment. Everything adds up when you’ve spent half your professional life waiting for a great week.
Hellgren doesn’t talk about money, although he knows this “changes the life” of his family. The Swede wants to finally feel part of something he has been watching on television for years and stop being the one asking for favours to become the one who has earned his place. Sometimes golf also rewards those who simply don’t give up.
