Women’s golf began to develop a Swedish flavor when Liselotte Neumann won the 1988 U.S Women’s Open and took on a decidedly Nordic taste when Annika Sorenstam took the championship in both 1995 and 1996. But since Sorenstam won the last of her three championships in 2006, no Swede has lifted the trophy.

And that’s been despite the presence of some great Swedish players, including Helen Alfredsson, who won the 2019 U.S. Senior Women’s Open, Carin Koch, Catrin Nilsmark, Maria Hjorth and two-time LPGA major championship winner Anna Nordqvist.

But there are reasons this week at Champions Golf Club to think Swedish hands may hold the U.S Women’s Open Trophy sometime in the not-too-distant future. Three Swedish amateurs made the cut at Champions and all of them are positioned to make a move on the weekend.

Linn Grant completed 36 holes at 4-under-par 138, three strokes behind leader Hinako Shibuno. Ingrid Lindblad is at 141 and Maja Stark is at 142. They are all better positioned that the four Swedish professionals who made the cut – Nordqvist, Linnea Strom and Pernilla Lindberg, all of whom are at 2-over 144, and Madelene Sagstrom, who sits one stroke farther back.

A major reason for the Swedish resurgence is Sorenstam herself. There are 55 Annika alumnae in the field this week, having competed in her series of junior tournaments. And the 10-time LPGA major winner is keeping a close look at what’s going on in Houston.

“It is fantastic to see all the Swedes playing well, especially the young amateurs,” Sorenstam said. “These girls have played together a lot and have all been part of our foundation events for many years.”

All three of the Swedish amateurs followed a similar path as Sorenstam in that they came to the United States to play college golf. Grant, 21, is at Arizona State University while Lindblad, 20, is at Louisiana State University and Stark, 20, attends Oklahoma State. All three qualified for the field off the Women’s World Amateur Ranking.

“Linn Grant has played a lot of our tournaments and Ingrid won our Annika Invitational USA presented by Rolex a couple years back,” said Sorenstam, who attended the University of Arizona. “I wish them well and think they can keep up the great play!” 

All three are remarkable poised, probably because they are so competitively experienced in college golf and amateur events such as the Annika series.

“To be honest, I was so nervous I could barely feel my hands during the first couple holes,” said Stark, whose roller-coaster round on Friday featured six bogeys, three birdies and an eagle when she holed out from the fairway. Stark had the added thrill of playing on her birthday.

“I thought if I played badly on my birthday that would just suck,” she said with youthful enthusiasm, if less than elegant language. “I was really determined to play well. We got some cupcakes and stuff from the USGA, so we just gathered the sweets and had a cupcake party yesterday.”