Former Arizona State golfers Linnea Strom, Linn Grant win tournament titles

Linnea Strom was the second player this week to have a chance at joining Annika Sorenstam in the 59 Club. Alas, it remains a club of one as Strom birdied the final hole to shoot 11-under 60 and win the ShopRite LPGA Classic.

Strom, who played at Arizona State for three seasons from 2015 to 2018, was tied for 52nd to start the final round. In the last 40 years, the LPGA's previous largest final-round comeback was from a tie for 23rd.

Strom, 27, birdied her final hole on Saturday to make the cut on the number and needed just 20 putts in a closing round that included birdies on four of the last five holes. The 2022 Epson Tour Player of the Year won on the LPGA for the first time in the 99th start.

“I knew I had a good score going,” she said after the round, “but I didn’t think I was that close to 59. Obviously now unfortunate that I wasn’t able to hit the green in two.”

Strom becomes the sixth player to shoot 60 on the LPGA and the first since Jessica Korda in 2021.

Meanwhile, on the DP World Tour, fellow former Sun Devil Linn Grant also made history, coming from 11 strokes back of the lead to capture the 2024 Volvo Car Scandinavian Mixed title, her second title in that event in three years.

Grant, 24, played at ASU for one season, 2019-20. Her Sunday 65 was enough to propel her past Sebastian Soderberg, who shot a final-round 77, including a short missed putt on the 18th hole that would have forced a playoff.

Grant's win came at Vasatorps Golfklubb in her hometown of Helsingborg, Sweden.

“I’m so surprised,” Grant said. “Standing here, now as a winner again in my hometown. Amazing.”

Grant is the first woman to win twice on the DP World Tour.

Three former Sun Devils headed to U.S. Open

There will be three former ASU men's golfers headed to Pinehurst No. 2 in North Carolina for the 2024 U.S. Open. All three currently play on the LIV Golf League.

Phil Mickelson, who famously has six second-place finishes in the U.S. Open (1999, 2002, 2004, 2006, 2009, 2013), is back again by virtue of his 2021 PGA Championship win. He will be joined in the field by 2021 U.S. Open Jon Rahm, who withdrew from the LIV event in Houston on Saturday, and David Puig, who won the Lake Merced qualifier on June 3 to make the field.

Adaptive tournament coming to Arizona

The Arizona Golf Association has announced the creation of the Arizona Adaptive Open Championship, scheduled for Dec. 9-11 at Papago Golf Club in Phoenix.

"Creating the Arizona Adaptive Open Championship is a massive step forward in advancing the game of golf in Arizona," AZ GOLF Senior Director of Championships Logan Rasmussen said.

The event will provide playing opportunities for all demographics, levels and abilities of golfers. This will be the first event of its kind in the western portion of the U.S. It also aligns with the U.S. Golf Association's recent efforts as it prepares to host the third U.S. Adaptive Open Championship in July.

A 60-player field is expected for golfers with physical and intellectual disabilities.