More than four hours after Linnea Strom put a bow on the sixth 60 in LPGA history, she was holding a bottle of champagne.
Strom began Sunday at the ShopRite LPGA Classic in a share of 52nd – tied for last – and vaulted to the top of the board after a spectacular 11-over performance at Seaview Country Club’s Bay Course in Galloway, New Jersey.
With a daunting clubhouse lead of 14 under, Strom enjoyed a leisurely lunch of chicken and tortellini pasta while the rest of the field grinded to catch her.
No one ever did.
Strom’s victory is the largest come-from-behind win by position since Ayako Okamoto won the 1987 Lady Keystone Open, another 54-hole event, after the starting the day in a share of 23rd. After losing her card following the 2021 season, Strom went back to the Epson Tour where she won once and earned 2022 Player of the Year honors. She returned to the LPGA a more confident player.
“I mean, honestly, really did not expect this waking up today,” said Strom, who won in her 99th start on the LPGA. “This is proof that you should never give up.”
Take a look at some of @linneaasstrom's heroics during her historic round of 60 👀
And tune in on @GolfChannel! 📺 pic.twitter.com/Z4IToMvaCH
— LPGA (@LPGA) June 9, 2024
It was a banner day for Swedish golf as Linn Grant made some history of her own at the Volvo Car Scandinavian Mixed, winning the event in her hometown for a second time. Grant began the day 11 strokes back but pitched-in for birdie on the final hole to edge Sebastian Soderberg by one shot. Söderberg double-bogeyed the last hole.
Grant’s closing 65 gave her the largest comeback on the DP World Tour. The mixed event is co-sanctioned with the Ladies European Tour. Male and female pros compete for the same purse from two different sets of tees. It also gives the two former Arizona State golfers a win on the same day.
American Megan Khang was briefly tied with Strom down the stretch at the ShopRite but fell one back after a bogey on No. 16. On the par-5 18th, Khang hit her second shot long and completely misjudged her third, a chip shot from just over the green, that rolled off the other side.
“It wasn’t terrible being at the back of the green, but just didn’t execute my chip the way I wanted to,” said Kang, whose birdie attempt just missed.
Kang shot 66 and finished one back at 13 under with Japan’s Ayaka Furue (65).
Strom, who made a 12-footer for birdie on Saturday to make the cut on the number, took only 20 putts in a closing round that included birdies on four of the last five holes. The 27-year-old Swede got a boost mid-round when she chipped in for eagle on the par-5 ninth. Strom said she had no idea she was so close to a 59, and she also never once thought about winning the tournament during the round.
The Bay Course is the shortest setup on the LPGA, with Sunday’s final round playing at 5,990 yards. Thailand’s Arpichaya Yubol opened with a 61 at the ShopRite but followed it with a 75 on Day 2.
Annika Sorenstam remains the only player in LPGA history to shoot 59.
Strom’s 60 sets the LPGA record for lowest final round by an eventual winner. The previous record was a final-round 61 posted by Inbee Park at the 2014 Manulife Financial LPGA Classic.
“I worked very hard for this,” said Strom. “Just surreal that it’s finally happening.”
Strom becomes the sixth player to shoot 60 on the LPGA and the first since Jessica Korda in 2021 at the season-opening Tournament of Champions. Paula Creamer (2008), Anna Acker-Macosko (2004), Jung Yeon Lee (2004) and Meg Mallon (2003) round out the group of six.
“It was fun and I embraced it,” said Strom. “You know, I kind of haven’t played that good beginning of the season so I’ve been missing this feeling a little bit. It’s fun to see people out there and cheering you on. I knew I had my dad out there following too so nice to have those support for those three days.”
Thailand’s Arpichaya Yubol opened with a 61 at the ShopRite but followed it with a 75 on Day 2.