Minutes After Her Blistering Start at $2M Event, Swedish LPGA Star Gets Honest About Her Golfing Struggles: ‘I Hated It..’

The Dundonald Links Golf Course is hosting the Women’s Scottish Open this season and the event is a nail-biter to all intents and purposes. The high-profile tournament is dedicated to expanding the horizons of women’s golf in the rolling hills.

As much as Scotland has been the hub for several top PGA and LPGA tour events since time immemorial, not everyone loves the Links courses all that much. However, the challenges they pose are uphill battles everyone wants to conquer. At this year’s Women’s Scottish Open, one particularly enthused golfer has her unique perspective.

What the LPGA star says about her time in Scotland

Swedish LPGA Pro Madelene Sagström had a wonderful first round in Ayrshire, Scotland on Thursday. She loved how she played, taking good shots with her caddie guiding her by her side. However, Sagström wasn’t always thrilled about playing the Links courses. Much like most golfers, she didn’t like the tougher course during such intense competition.

“As an amateur, I hated it. I can’t hit it low,” she said about playing in Scotland. The Swedish dame also admitted that it took her years to understand and master the links courses and credited some of that to her incredible bagman “Shane” with whom she’s been working for a couple of years.

“We’ve really been pushing it since and been able to be much more creative on the golf course.” Sagström added that her caddie has also been helping her identify different shots and her journey has been truly enlightening to improve her game.

Currently, with her newfound expertise on Links courses, Sagström is in the top 3 as of the end of round 1 and is vying for a spot in the top 10 by moving day. She started round 1 with a bogey but continued with several birdies, sometimes consecutively, till she finished with a 6-under par.

The Women’s Scottish Open has a fabulous beginning

The event at Ayrshire is going smashingly from the get-go. Hinako Shibuno is leading the Women’s Scottish Open with an 8-under since round one. At the time of writing this article, French Pro Celine Boutier who took home the Amundi Evian Championship title is tied for second alongside Sarah Kemp after their rounds on Friday.

Also Read: ‘A Good Week’: Days After Her $1,000,000 Triumph, Celine Boutier Radiates Confidence and Hopes to Recreate Her Major Feat at the Scottish Open

Madelene Sagström and Hinako Shibuno will be determining their position after they tee off for round 2. The two pro golfers have tough competition with each other. Shibuno scored 8 birdies in round 1, the first three of which were consecutively in the front 9, one on the 10th, and 4 consecutive birdies in the back 9 from the 13th to 16th.

The Swedish LPGA meanwhile pro scored 7 birdies, three of which were consecutively on the back 9 from the 10th to the 12th, while the others were spread out to offer her an advantage with expertise. Do you agree that Sagström’s game has improved on the Links courses since her amateur days? What are your thoughts on her performance so far at the Women’s Scottish Open? Share your thought with us in the comments below.

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