The Swedish players are thriving at Erin Hills, located two hours north of Chicago, where this year’s U.S. Women’s Open is being held. Maja Stark started strong, finishing the first round tied for twelfth before climbing to a shared second place after an impressive round where she recorded six birdies and three bogeys for a score of 69 (-3). With a total score of five under par, she trails the leading Japanese golfer Mao Saigo by three strokes.
“My iron play was good, and I hit a few shots really close. I also made a few more putts from around five meters than I normally do, which felt nice,” Stark remarked after her round.
She shares the second position with five other players, including world number one Nelly Korda.
A stroke behind in a tie for eighth place is Linn Grant, who also carded a 69 (-3) in her second round. Grant managed seven birdies along with two bogeys and a double bogey. She expressed satisfaction with her performance, stating, “I finished well, and it feels like I have good golf in me. But the greens are so fast, which I’m not quite used to.”
Grant anticipates that the course will become tougher as the tournament progresses, leading her to potentially adopt a more conservative strategy. “I will play with a lot of patience and feel that it won’t be birdie every time I hit good shots. Pars are good, and bogeys can be okay too.”
Madelene Sagström followed suit, also scoring 69 in the second round, which moved her up to a shared twelfth place, five shots behind Saigo. Sagström recorded one eagle, four birdies, and three bogeys, needing just 26 putts on Erin Hills’ tricky greens.
Ingrid Lindblad maintained two rounds at par, tying for 37th place, while Anna Nordqvist, with rounds of 76 and 69, was the only Swedish player to go bogey-free in the second round. Nordqvist improved her position to a shared 44th place, just above the qualifying line.
Linnea Ström was two over par with two holes remaining when play was halted due to adverse weather conditions late Friday. She will likely need to finish one under par on these final holes to make the cut.
For viewers interested in following the tournament, TV times for the U.S. Women’s Open are as follows:
V Sport Golf/Viaplay
– Saturday, May 31: 19:00
– Sunday, June 1: 20:00
This promising performance by the Swedish golfers encapsulates their resilience and skill, showcasing their potential for the remainder of the tournament. With several players in contention, fans can look forward to an exciting weekend of golf.