The Swedish Linnea Strom (-14), 27 years old, completed a historic comeback this Sunday to claim victory in the ShopRite LPGA Classic of the LPGA, a tournament held at the Bay Course of Seaview, in Galloway, New Jersey. The player from Gothenburg, who has become the second golfer to debut her list of victories on the American tour this season joining Baley Tardy (at the Blue Bay LPGA), has given a real recital with a final round of… 60 strokes and 11 under par! A result that has shattered all records.
Strom, with her impressive card, has broken the LPGA record for the lowest final round of a winner. The previous one was held by Inbee Park when she made 61 strokes to win the Manulife Financial LPGA Classic in 2014. The 60 of the Swedish player is also the seventh score of 60 strokes or better in the entire history of the circuit and the first to be recorded since Jessica Korda achieved it in the third round of the Hilton Grand Vacations Tournament of Champions in 2021.
The putt that sealed the biggest comeback victory in LPGA history 🤯🏆 pic.twitter.com/3oATenJ5NH
— LPGA (@LPGA) June 9, 2024
With nine birdies and an eagle, without a mistake, Linnea records the biggest comeback by position in the final round of an LPGA tournament since 1984, after starting the day in the 52nd tied place. The previous best comeback on a last tournament day was held by Ayako Okamoto at the Lady Keystone Open in 1987, starting from the 23rd tied place. Strom is the 15th Swedish woman to win on the tour and the first since Linn Grant at last year’s Dana Open. Linn Grant who, by the way, has won today at the Scandinavian Mixed Open, making this Sunday an unforgettable day in the history of Swedish women’s golf.
For lovers of statistics, an overwhelming fact: Linnea had a victory probability this Sunday at the ShopRite LPGA Classic of 0.001% at the start of the final round, with three under par and below the top 50. She had only made one cut in her last six appearances and throughout her career she had barely accumulated five top 10s, with a second place at last year’s Walmart NW Arkansas Championship as her best result. A historic Sunday that allows her to climb from 103rd to 25th in the Race to CME Globe.
There's no better recovery than @linneaasstrom coming back from last place to being in contention 😮💨
Presented by @iovera 👏 pic.twitter.com/LU1YzO65Te
— LPGA (@LPGA) June 9, 2024
The Swede takes home $262,500 and leaves behind, astonishingly, players like Ayaka Furue (-13), Megan Khang (-13), Atthaya Thitikul (-12) or Morgane Metraux (-11), who completed the top 5. “Honestly, I didn’t expect this when I woke up today,” she said as soon as her feat was sealed. “It’s proof that you should never give up. You just have to go out there and give it your all,” she insisted. “I think I just tried to do my best and, honestly, I didn’t think I was playing to win. I mean, obviously you always want to win in the back of your mind, but today I just tried to get a good result. I’m very proud of how I behaved. I’ve worked very hard to achieve this. It’s surreal that it’s finally happening,” she concluded.
An unforgettable Sunday for the Swede and a good day also for the Spanish Azahara Muñoz (-8), who after her little ‘jam’ yesterday, with three bogeys in four holes that squandered her chances of getting into the fight for the win, has reacted today with a round of 68 strokes, with five birdies and two bogeys, to recover positions and climb to the 12th tied place in the classification. Ana Peláez (-3), for her part, had to settle for a 52nd tied place after a final round at par, with 71 strokes.
