The innovative Volvo Car Scandinavian Mixed returns this week to Sweden as talent from both the DP World Tour and Ladies European Tour come together again. Here are your five things to know.
A trailblazing event
Now into its fourth edition, and fourth to be held in Sweden, the Volvo Car Scandinavian Mixed exemplifies inclusivity on the global stage.
Co-sanctioned by the DP World Tour and Ladies European Tour, the tournament features a field of 78 men and 78 women playing in the same groups for one prize fund and one trophy.
After Northern Ireland’s Jonathan Caldwell won the inaugural event in 2021, history was made a year later when home favourite Linn Grant became the first woman to win a DP World Tour event, before Dale Whitnell won his maiden Tour title 12 months ago.
Ten-time Major champion Annika Sörenstam successfully hosted three editions of the innovative mixed event but takes a step back from those duties as she concentrates on inspiring the next generation with the ANNIKA Foundation.
A new host venue with history on the DP World Tour
As in keeping with previous editions, the tournament is being taken to a new venue once again.
After last year’s edition on the bank of Lake Ullna, Vasatorps Golf Club in southern Sweden is the scene of the latest staging in the event’s history.
Formed in 1973, the club is located 20 minutes from central Helsingborg in Skåne County and has a history of hosting professional golf tournaments.
Back in 1978, the late, great Seve Ballesteros won the first of three Scandinavian Enterprise Opens at this venue, which has since formed part of the European Challenge Tour schedule and featured on the Ladies European Tour, including the 2002 Compaq Open won by Hall of Famer Sörenstam.
Whitnell defends
After 14 years as a professional and 106 events, Dale Whitnell claimed his maiden DP World Tour title with a three-shot victory in last year’s event.
The Englishman set the tone for his week at Ullna Golf and Country Club with a closing 96-yard hole-out eagle on day one and carried that momentum into a second-round 61 that handed him a six-shot lead at the halfway stage.
While Whitnell saw his advantage cut to just two by American Sean Crocker at one point on the final day, he birdied the 17th to ease the pressure and finished on 21 under.
The former Walker Cup player, who found work off the course while playing mini-tour events after struggling to make an impact in the paid ranks, comes into his title defence on the back of missing four of his last five cuts but with memories of his win still front and centre.
Strong Swedish challenge target home success
With 25 Swedish players across both men and women in town, the crowds will not be in short supply of home players to cheer on.
Leading the men are a host of DP World Tour winners, including PGA TOUR dual member Alexander Björk, Vincent Norrman, Sebastian Söderberg and Jesper Svensson.
On the women’s side, they will be joined by past champion Grant’s Solheim Cup teammates Caroline Hedwall and Madelene Sagström along with 2023 Ladies European Tour Player of the Year Johanna Gustavsson.
Official World Ranking points will be on offer for both Tours, as well as Race to Dubai points for the men and Order of Merit and Solheim Cup points for the women.
Array of initiatives planned
The Volvo Car Scandinavian Mixed is a tournament that puts sustainability at the forefront with initiatives celebrating the environment, as well as supporting social aspects.
Among a raft of activities planned, local pre-school children will join two Swedish players from both the DP World Tour and Ladies European Tour in a beach clean, raising awareness of sustainability and environmental issues in everyday life.
As part of the European Tour group’s Green Drive pledge, water refill stations will be dotted around the fan village at Vasatorps, there will be no single-use plastic at catering options across the site, and title partner Volvo are providing a fully electric courtesy car fleet.
Teenage local children will also take part in a Careers in Golf workshop, benefiting from a behind the scenes tour to hear about the various career paths in the sport.
