Breaking new ground is a theme that has become synonymous with the Volvo Car Scandinavian Mixed in recent years.
First held in 2021, the tournament – co-sanctioned by the DP World Tour and Ladies European Tour – became a first-of-its-kind event as 78 men and 78 women competed on the same course for one prize fund and one trophy.
In the subsequent years, no shortage of history has been created.
Earlier this week, we saw the first equal split of male and female players compete for the same trophy on the same course at the G4D Tour @ Volvo Car Scandinavian Mixed as Juan Postigo Arce claimed a dramatic victory on Tuesday.
Collaboration with the women’s game along with disability golf has helped spotlight the inclusive nature of the sport.
Last year’s Volvo Car Scandinavian Mixed proved a historic occasion as Linn Grant, one of the leading women’s players in world golf, became the first female winner on the DP World Tour in its 50th anniversary.
The Swede cruised to a nine-stroke victory and will defend her title this week as the event moves to a new home in Ullna Golf & Country Club.
There have been other milestone moments at the event along the way, including Caroline Hedwall becoming the first female in history to hold the solo lead on the DP World Tour in 2021, before Alice Hewson claimed top female honours with a third-place finish in the same edition.
But the extent to the Tour’s commitment to working with the Ladies European Tour dates back further.
In 2018, GolfSixes saw Charley Hull and Georgia Hall form an all-female England team while fellow Solheim Cup stars Mel Reid and Carlotta Ciganda played together in a European team, with both sides reaching the quarter-finals.
Alongside inclusivity, innovation has long been a source of focus.
After a successful inaugural edition in 2019 on the European Challenge Tour in 2019, the ISPS HANDA World Invitational presented by AVIV Clinics became the first mixed event of its kind to be tr-sanctioned by the DP World Tour, LPGA Tour and Ladies European Tour.
It built on the ISPS HANDA Vic Open in Australia which formed part of the DP World Tour schedule in 2019 and 2020 and brought together the men’s and women’s professional game, with two tournaments played concurrently on the same golf course and for equal prize money.
Could we see another woman winner this week in Sweden?
