Linn Grant and Maja Stark are rivals, but, above all, friends. That good relationship was palpable in the press conference prior to the Andalucía Costa del Sol Open de España 2022, where both will fight for the victory and the order of merit of the Ladies European Tour. Rivalry is not incompatible with friendship.
Linn Grant and Maja Stark, the Swedish players who occupy the top two places in the Race to Costa del Sol, arrive at Villa Padierna, where the Andalucía Costa del Sol Open de España will take place from 24th to 27th November, eager to put the finishing touch to a season that both have described as “excellent”.
“I’m very satisfied with the season I’ve had, I’ve had good results and that made me enjoy a lot. Leading the Race to Costa del Sol at this tournament is a real gift,” said Linn Grant.
Maja Stark endorsed the words of her compatriot and added that “this tournament is a very interesting challenge, the best players on the LET will be present and it’s a good way to finish the year”. Great Golfers as Carlota Ciganda, Azahara Muñoz, Ana Peláez, Anne Van Dam and Emily Kristine Pedersen will be in charge of giving the Swedish players a challenge.
Without losing their smiles at any time and showing great complicity, both golfers agreed that it is “a great challenge” to fight to win the Race to Costa del Sol and as they are separated by just 69 points in the standings, the excitement is guaranteed.
The trophy that one of the two players will win on Sunday presided over the press conference, but as there is no need to tempt fate, Maja Stark preferred not to touch it. Meanwhile, Linn Grant would not have minded doing so. Perhaps because she is the current leader of the LET order of merit.
In any case, Stark is not setting herself any limits this week and confessed to arriving at Villa Padierna “with the idea of winning the tournament, and also the order of merit. The season has been long, but I will use all the strength I have left to finish the year as well as possible”.
Of course, the mission will not be easy, neither for them nor for the rest of the participants, as Alferini Golf is not willing to give any ease. “I think the first seven holes are the most difficult and if the wind blows, the tournament can get very difficult,” predicted Grant.
Looking ahead to the 2023 Solheim Cup
At this stage of the year and playing in Andalusia, very close to Finca Cortesin, the resort that will host the 2023 Solheim Cup, it is inevitable to think about this biennial tournament that pits the best in Europe and the United States. But the Nordic golfers prefer to go slowly: “The first thing is to finish this season as well as possible, but yes, it is clear that your head is already starting to think about next year and, of course, the Solheim Cup,” confessed Linn Grant. “It’s impossible to come to play the Andalucía Costa del Sol Open de España and not think about the Solheim Cup,” added Maja Stark.
The Andalucía Costa del Sol Open de España, as well as closing the Ladies European Tour season and proclaiming the winner of the Race To Costa del Sol for the third consecutive edition, will be the fourth event of this circuit to be played this year in our country with a prize money of 650,000€. In addition, there will also be a bonus of €250,000 for the top three classified in the order of merit of the European Women’s Tour.
The Andalucía Costa del Sol Open de España news can be followed on the openfemenino.com website, the Twitter account @Openfemenino, the Instagram account @spanishopen and the Facebook page @openfemenino.
The Andalucía Costa del Sol Open de España 2022 will be held at Alferini Golf from 24 to 27 November and is part of the Solheim Cup 2023 programme, an event declared an Event of Exceptional Public Interest (AEIP) and which provides important tax advantages to participating companies.
The Andalucía Costa del Sol Open de España, the last event on the Ladies European Tour calendar, is sponsored by the Consejería de Turismo, Cultura y Deporte de la Junta de Andalucía, with co-financing from the European Union, Turismo Costa del Sol and Acosol as main sponsors, together with Marbella Town Hall, Benahavís Town Hall and Reale Seguros. Vithas is the official medical service. Solán de Cabras, Eversheds Sutherland, Mahou, PING, Kyocera, Puerto Banús and Volvo are official suppliers. Marca and Radio Marca are official media. Anantara Villa Padierna Palace is the official hotel. LET, RFEG, RFGA and Deporte & Business collaborate in its organisation.