Sweden’s Linn Grant ended her first season on the Ladies European Tour with a third placed finish at the Andalucía Costa del Sol Open de España, which was good enough to clinch the 2022 Race to Costa del Sol title.
The money list title was decided at the final event in Spain, with Grant battling alongside compatriot Maja Stark for the number one spot. But it was Grant who came out on top and clinched the title, accumulating 3,624.91 points from 17 events and ultimately, finishing 209.77 points ahead of Stark, with fellow Swede Johanna Gustavsson rounding out the top three.
“I’m very relieved to have beaten Maja, she stressed me out this week and she’s been stressing me out the whole season! I’m very happy to win the Race to Costa del Sol title,” she said. “It was a pleasure to have been able to play in the Costa del Sol region for the season finale and I would like to thank to Costa del Sol Tourist Board for their support.”
Grant also secured the LET Rookie of the Year title back in October and as such is following in the footsteps of Laura Davies, Carlota Ciganda, Esther Henseleit and Atthaya Thitikul by becoming the fifth player to win both titles in the same season.
“It feels so nice to get both titles,” she explained. “Rookie of the Year was a little more straightforward and I knew that was coming but to get this one as well was more of the goal. I’m happy to have played well at the last round in Spain and to win it. They’re all great players and they have gone on to have pretty good careers after winning both titles, I hope to continue on their path as well.”
The 23-year-old began the year with a bang winning the Joburg Ladies Open in her first start on the LET since clinching her card at Q-School last December. From there, Grant recorded two top-10 finishes and one top-15 result but it wasn’t long before she was back in the winner’s circle securing victory at the Mithra Belgian Ladies Open. After a week of rest, the Swedish star then cemented her name in the history books by triumphing at the Volvo Car Scandinavian Mixed – storming to a nine-shot victory and becoming the first woman to win on the DP World Tour.
Five further top-10 finishes throughout the summer – including at the Amundi Evian Championship – came her way before she won again on home soil, this time at the Skaftö Open to record her fourth victory of the year. And Grant’s rapid rise in 2022 has seen her climb from 277 up to 24 in the Rolex Women’s World Golf Rankings.
“I think the Scandinavian Mixed is my standout moment,” she continued. “It was a big event and at home and everything that came with that. Plus, for sure the first title in Joburg because I think that set the standard for the season. I think Maja has had an incredible season and I think it’s been a fun season. It was nice to share this moment with her and this season and I think we will hold hands through our whole careers probably. This is huge for Swedish golf, having Johanna Gustavsson as number three on the rankings.”