We use our own and third-party cookies to deliver content to you throughout your experience online. It is possible that some cookies may continue to collect information after you've left our site. By using our site, you consent to cookies. Learn more here.
Austrian is the first woman to lead a European Tour event
Photography: Getty Images
Christine Wolf became the first woman to lead a European Tour event as she shared top spot on the leaderboard with Sam Horsfield after day one of the Scandinavian Mixed Hosted by Henrik & Annika.
Christine Wolf leads a European Tour event
History was made on the Race to Dubai at Vallda Golf and Country Club as a field of 78 men and 78 women teed off over the same course playing for one trophy and one prize fund of €1,000,000. The men had dominated the first half of the day but in the afternoon Austrian Wolf came home in a blistering 30 to sign for a 64 and set the target at eight under. Englishman Horsfield then birdied two of his last three holes to join her a shot ahead of countrymen Steven Brown and Ashley Chesters, Spaniard Pep Angles and Finn Kalle Samooja.
Sam Horsefield in form in Sweden
After a 12 month delay due to the Covid-19 pandemic and days of seeing the men and women on the range and practising together, the action did not disappoint when competitive shots were finally hit in the European Tour's first fully strokeplay event. Tournament hosts Henrik Stenson and Annika Sorenstam were playing together and they finished at two-under and one-over respectively, with playing partner and fellow Scandinavian great Thomas Bjørn also at one-over. Wolf, winner of the 2019 Hero Women's Indian Open on the Ladies European Tour, was bogey-free with six birdies and an eagle, picking up four shots in her final four holes to take her place in the history books with her mum on the bag. "I started quite well and birdied the first two par fives that came up and actually hit it quite close on some of the holes but didn’t make any putts on the front nine," said Wolf. "Then all of a sudden, I hit it close and towards the end, the putter got really hot. It was nice!" Horsfield claimed two wins on the UK Swing last season and while he then had a spell out with a back injury, he has not missed a beat since his return with two top-fives and no missed cuts in his six events on the 2021 Race to Dubai. The 24-year-old birdied all four of the par fives over the Gothenburg layout on day one and felt that was the key to his success. “It was just really solid. I haven’t really been taking advantage of the par fives this year. So that was my main goal," said Horsfield. "I hit every fairway and played them in four under today. That gets you going – four under right there, toss in a couple more and it’s eight under."
