Golf in Sweden

In 1946, Prince Bertil, Duke of Halland became Chairman of the SGF. Sven Tumba was instrumental in promoting the game as an healthy activity for the masses, and in 1968 he organized exhibition matches at Lidingö Golf Club and Falsterbo Golf Club featuring Arnold Palmer, popularizing the sport further. By 1970 there were 110 courses.

The first notable Swedish professional golfers emerged in the 1970s, with Gunnar Mueller the first to play all four rounds in a major at the 1973 Open Championship. Kärstin Ehrnlund joined the Ladies European Tour in its inaugural season in 1979, and secured the first Swedish victory on the tour in 1980. In 1982, Charlotte Montgomery became the first to qualify as a member on one of the main U.S.-based golf tours when she succeeded at the LPGA Final Qualifying Tournament, soon followed by Pia Nilsson, who would later captain the European 1998 Solheim Cup team.

Golf boomed in the 1980s, and the number of courses almost doubled in a single decade to 271. In 1984, the Swedish Golf Tour was established, and a women's tour followed two years later. Corporate sponsorship of professionals emerged, and Team Saab supported by Saab Automobile, saw Ove Sellberg, Magnus Persson and Krister Kinell turn professionals in 1982 and be competitive on the European Tour, where the first victory came in 1986. Liselotte Neumann became the first LPGA Tour winner and major champion when she won the 1988 U.S. Women's Open.

In 1997, Gabriel Hjertstedt became the first to win on the PGA Tour and two years later the first two-time winner. Jesper Parnevik became the first three-time winner, with a total of five PGA Tour-titles 1997–2001. Between 1995 and 2005 Annika Sörenstam was a dominant on the LPGA Tour, with a career record of 72 LPGA Tour titles, including 10 major victories. By the time Anna Nordqvist won her third major in 2021, she and her compatriots had the third most LPGA major championship titles of any nation, behind only the United States and South Korea. The first Swedish men's major victory came at the 2016 Open Championship through Henrik Stenson, after Parnevik, Niclas Fasth and Jonas Blixt had all recorded runner-up finishes.

{{Main|List of golf courses in Sweden}}

File:Bro Hof Slott Bro.jpg

File:Veckefjardens Golf Club.jpg

As of January 2024, the number of golf clubs organized by the Swedish Golf Federation (SGF) was 445.{{cite news|title=List of Golf Clubs in Sweden|url=https://golf.se/globalassets/golf-i-sverige/statistik/golfklubbar-och-golfbolag-i-sverige-i-distriktsordning.pdf|access-date=14 January 2024|publisher=Swedish Golf Federation|language=sv}}

Golf Digest has continually ranked Swedish courses since 1993. Svensk Golf, a monthly publication attached to the Swedish Golf Federation, in 2020 published an updated ranking using the same methodology.{{cite web |title=Sveriges bästa golfbanor |url=https://www.svenskgolf.se/sveriges-basta-golfbanor/ |publisher=Svensk Golf |access-date=8 February 2021 |language=sv}}

1. Visby GC
2. Bro Hof Slott GC – Stadium Course
3. Kristianstad GC – Åhus Östra
4. Ullna GC
5. Falsterbo GC
6. Halmstad GC – Norra
7. Vallda G&CC
8. Österåker GC – Öster by Stenson
9. PGA Sweden National – Links Course
10. Barsebäck G&CC – Masters Course
11. Vasatorp GC – Tournament Course
12. Ljunghusen GC – 1–18
13. Royal Drottningholm GC
14. Bro Hof Slott GC – Castle Course
15. Sand GC

==Tours==

{{Main|Swedish Golf Tour|Swedish Golf Tour (women)}}

The Swedish Golf Tour has operated continuously since 1984, and the Swedish Golf Tour (women) since 1986. Recently most tournaments also feature on the Nordic Golf League and LET Access Series, respectively.

The Swedish Golf Federation instituted the first national golf tournament in 1904. Notable tournaments include:

• Swedish Matchplay Championship (since 1904)
• Swedish International Stroke Play Championship (1945–2006)
• Swedish International (women) (1962–2007)
• Swedish PGA Championship (since 1970)
• Swedish PGA Championship (women) (since 1997)
• Swedish Junior Matchplay Championship (since 1939)
• Swedish Junior Strokeplay Championship (since 1977)

The Solheim Cup has been hosted twice:{{cite web |title=Solheim Cup til Sverige også i 2007 |url=https://www.aftenposten.no/norge/i/o39QR/solheim-cup-til-sverige-ogsaa-i-2007 |publisher=Aftenposten |access-date=30 December 2020 |language=no}}

• 2003 Solheim Cup at Barsebäck Golf & Country Club
• 2007 Solheim Cup at Halmstad Golf Club

The European Tour:{{cite book |url=http://www.e-magin.se/paper/1pfc350j/popup/1? |title=Golf - Den Stora Sporten' |language=sv |trans-title=Golf - the Great Sport |first=Anders |last=Jansson |publisher=Swedish Golf Federation |date=2004 |isbn=91-86818007 |access-date=30 December 2020}}

• Scandinavian Enterprise Open, played 1973–1990, rotated between Royal Drottningholm GC, Bokskogen GC, Vasatorp GC, Linköping GC and Ullna GC.
• PLM Open, played 1984–1990, mainly rotated between the links courses Falsterbo GC, Ljunghusen GC and Flommen GC.
• Scandinavian Masters, played 1991–2019, was typically hosted at Barsebäck G&CC, with stints at Kungsängen GC, Forsgården GC and Arlandastad Golf, before a new rota of Bro Hof Slott GC, PGA Sweden National and Hills GC was established in 2010.
• Scandinavian Mixed, played 2020–2024.

The Ladies European Tour:

• Scandinavian TPC hosted by Annika, played 1996–2008, was the longest running of over a dozen different LET tournaments hosted.

The Challenge Tour:

• Swedish courses hosted over a hundred Challenge Tour events 1990–2020.

The International Golf Federation or European Golf Association:

• Sweden has hosted over 40 IGF or EGA events starting with the 1962 St Andrews Trophy at Halmstad GC.

Qualification event for the Junior Solheim Cup:

• Annika Invitational Europe (since 2012)

Image:AnnikaStAndrews.JPG recorded 72 LPGA Tour victories]]

As of October 2024, the number of active golfers organized by the Swedish Golf Federation was 506,000.{{cite web|title=Statistik |url=https://golf.se/om-golfsverige/analyser-och-statistik/statistik/ |website=2017 statistics |publisher=Swedish Golf Federation |access-date=28 October 2024|language=sv}} This makes golf the third largest sport in Sweden in terms of active members, behind association football and athletics.{{cite web|title=2017 Golf Data|url=http://www.golf.se/golfsverige/statistik-2017/|website=2017 statistics|publisher=Swedish Golf Federation|accessdate=6 January 2018|language=sv}}

{{Main|Swedish Golfer of the Year}}

Annika Sörenstam won Swedish Golfer of the Year nine times 1995–2005, and Henrik Stenson five times 2006–2016.

Members include Annika Sörenstam, Liv Wollin, Henrik Stenson, Liselotte Neumann, Sven Tumba, Jesper Parnevik, Pia Nilsson, Göran Zachrisson, Helen Alfredsson and Robert Karlsson.{{cite web |title=Sveriges Golf Hall of Fame |url=https://golf.se/om-golfsverige/svenska-golfforbundet/utmarkelser/sveriges-golf-hall-of-fame/ |publisher=Swedish Golf Federation |access-date=12 April 2025 |lang=sv}}

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The Swedish Golf Team is the national squad. Amateur players from the age of 13 are trained and selected by the SGF to represent the country in international tournaments. The first win came at the 1959 European Amateur Team Championship. Notably, the women's team won the European Ladies' Team Championship three consecutive years 2018, 2019 and 2020, with players such as Linn Grant, Maja Stark, Frida Kinhult and Ingrid Lindblad.{{cite web |title=Välkommen till landslaget |url=https://golf.se/for-spelaren/landslag/ |publisher=Swedish Golf Federation |access-date=29 October 2024 |language=sv}}

In 2023, Ingrid Lindblad and Ludvig Åberg briefly topped the World Amateur Golf Ranking simultaniously.

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!colspan=60 style="background:#cedaf2;" | Individual Wins

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!colspan=60 style="background:#cedaf2;" | Ranking

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Updated as of 20 April 2025.

Swedish professional golfers have collectively won over a hundred European Tour titles and also over a hundred LPGA Tour titles. Notable golfers listed below are those with a win or runner-up finish on any of the principlal international tours.{{efn|Players with or eligible for Swedish nationality that have chosen to represent other countries (e.g. Jenny Lidback, Carl Suneson, Camilla Hedberg) are not included. Players that have switched their nationality (e.g. Caroline Westrup, Paul Nilbrink) are included if they represented Sweden at the time of their achievement. Several players, such as Annika Sörenstam, have assumed U.S. citizenship, but continued to use Sweden as sporting nationality.}}{{efn|The principal tours in this centext are defined as the PGA Tour (USA), European Tour (EUR), Asian Tour (ASA), Sunshine Tour (AFR), Korn Ferry Tour (KFT), Challenge Tour (CHA) and LIV Golf League (LIV) for men, and the LPGA Tour (LPGA), Ladies European Tour (LET), LPGA of Japan Tour (JP), LPGA of Korea Tour (KR), Ladies Asian Golf Tour (AS), Epson Tour (EPS), WPGA Tour of Australasia (AU), and Sunshine Ladies Tour (AF) for women. In addition, the senior tours PGA Tour Champions (CMP) and European Senior Tour (EST) for men, and the Legends Tour (LEG) for women are included. A record of these wins is maintained by the Swedish Golf Federation.{{cite web |title=Blågula segrar |trans-title=Swedish Victories |url=https://golf.se/for-spelaren/tavlingar/blagula-segrar/ |publisher=Swedish Golf Federation |access-date=24 April 2024 |language=sv}}{{cite book |url=http://www.e-magin.se/paper/1pfc350j/popup/1? |title=Golf - Den stora sporten |language=Swedish |trans-title=Golf - The great sport |first=Anders |last=Jansson |publisher=Swedish Golf Federation |date=2004 |isbn=91-86818007 }}}}

{{legend2|#E9B06B|Ryder Cup player|border=1px solid #AAAAAA}} {{legend2|#9F9|Winner|border=1px solid #AAAAAA}} {{legend2|#ffff90|Runner-up|border=1px solid #AAAAAA}} {{legend2|#F9F9F9|Golfers in bold are active on tour as of 2025 (^ indicates active on a senior tour)|border=1px solid #AAAAAA}}

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{{legend2|#E9B06B|Solheim Cup player|border=1px solid #AAAAAA}} {{legend2|#9F9|Winner|border=1px solid #AAAAAA}} {{legend2|#ffff90|Runner-up|border=1px solid #AAAAAA}} {{legend2|#F9F9F9|Golfers in bold are active on (a non-senior) tour as of 2025|border=1px solid #AAAAAA}}

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Between 2016 and 2024, ten different golfers represented Sweden at the olympics. Henrik Stenson won a medal at the 2016 Summer Olympics.

Ludvig Åberg was the 12th Ryder Cup player from Sweden, while Pia Nilsson, Catrin Nilsmark, Helen Alfredsson, Carin Koch and Annika Sörenstam have all been Solheim Cup captains.

Anders Forsbrand and Per-Ulrik Johansson won the 1991 World Cup. Liselotte Neumann and Helen Alfredsson won the 1992 Sunrise Cup World Team Championship.

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!colspan=7 style="background:#cedaf2;" | Golf at the Summer Youth Olympics

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|rowspan="8" align="center"| P
O
S
T
P
O
N
E
D

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|Ludvig Eriksson || {{n/a|}} ||style="background:#D0F0C0; text-align: center;"|T26

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|colspan=4|

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!rowspan=2|Women's

|Linnea Ström ||style="background:#D0F0C0; text-align: center;"|T12 || {{n/a|}}

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|Amanda Linnér || {{n/a|}} ||style="background:#D0F0C0; text-align: center;"| 30

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|colspan=4|

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!rowspan=2|Mixed Team

|Marcus Kinhult
Linnea Ström ||style="background:#D0F0C0; text-align: center;"| Image:silver medal icon.svg || {{n/a|}}

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|Ludvig Eriksson
Amanda Linnér || {{n/a|}} ||style="background:#D0F0C0; text-align: center;"| T23

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!Total ||4 ||2 ||2 ||—

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|colspan=7|

{{legend2|#D0F0C0|Competitor |border=1px solid #AAAAAA}}

{{legend2|#F9F9F9|Medalist in bold|border=1px solid #AAAAAA}}

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{{legend2|#E9B06B|Europe captain|border=1px solid #AAAAAA}}

{{legend2|#D0F0C0|Player – Automatic qualifier |border=1px solid #AAAAAA}}

{{legend2|#D0F4E0|Player – Captain's pick |border=1px solid #AAAAAA}}

{{legend2|#EEE8AA|Non-playing vice-captain|border=1px solid #AAAAAA}}

{{legend2|#F9F9F9|Winner in bold|border=1px solid #AAAAAA}}

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!colspan=30 style="background:#cedaf2;" | Solheim Cup

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{{legend2|#E9B06B|Europe captain|border=1px solid #AAAAAA}}

{{legend2|#EEE8AA|Non-playing assistant captain|border=1px solid #AAAAAA}}

{{legend2|#D6E8FF|Playing assistant captain|border=1px solid #AAAAAA}}

{{legend2|#D0F0C0|Player – Automatic qualifier |border=1px solid #AAAAAA}}

{{legend2|#D0F4E0|Player – Captain's pick |border=1px solid #AAAAAA}}

{{legend2|#F9F9F9|Winner in bold|border=1px solid #AAAAAA}}

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{{legend2|#D0F0C0|Player |border=1px solid #AAAAAA}}

{{legend2|#FFC0CB|Qualified but did not play |border=1px solid #AAAAAA}}

{{legend2|#F9F9F9|Winner in bold|border=1px solid #AAAAAA}}

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!colspan=60 style="background:#cedaf2;" | Women

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{{legend2|#D0F0C0|Seeded player |border=1px solid #AAAAAA}}

{{legend2|#D0F4E0|Unseeded player|border=1px solid #AAAAAA}}

{{legend2|#FFC0CB|Qualified but did not play |border=1px solid #AAAAAA}}

{{legend2|#F9F9F9|Winner in bold|border=1px solid #AAAAAA}}

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{{legend2|#D0F0C0|Player|border=1px solid #AAAAAA}}

{{legend2|#F9F9F9|Winner in bold|border=1px solid #AAAAAA}}

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!colspan=60 style="background:#cedaf2;" | Seve Trophy and Hero Cup

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{{legend2|#D0F0C0|Player – Automatic qualifier |border=1px solid #AAAAAA}}

{{legend2|#FFC0CB|Qualified but did not play |border=1px solid #AAAAAA}}

{{legend2|#F9F9F9|Winner in bold|border=1px solid #AAAAAA}}

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!colspan=60 style="background:#cedaf2;" | Royal Trophy and EurAsia Cup

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{{legend2|#D0F0C0|Player |border=1px solid #AAAAAA}}

{{legend2|#FFC0CB|Qualified but did not play |border=1px solid #AAAAAA}}

{{legend2|#F9F9F9|Winner in bold|border=1px solid #AAAAAA}}

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{{Notelist}}

{{reflist}}

{{Commons category|Golfers from Sweden}}

• [http://www.golf.se Swedish Golf Federation]

Category:Golf in Sweden

{{Golf}}