Henrik Stenson and Annika Sorenstam are delighted to have the fans back as they get ready to party at the second edition of the Volvo Car Scandinavian Mixed.
The inaugural staging of the event - which sees 78 men and 78 women battle it out over the same course for one prize fund and one trophy - was a huge success in 2021 but had to be played without fans due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
This season, spectators will be lining the fairways at Halmstad Golf Club and our home hero hosts cannot wait to see them.
“It’s great to be back home playing in Sweden and the sun is out, hopefully big crowds," said Stenson.
"That would be the one big difference that we really missed last year at the first event, we couldn’t have crowds due to the pandemic, so really looking forward to playing in front of the Swedish crowds again.
“We are in for the long term with all the partners and everyone involved, we just try and make it better and better, and it was a success last year and we had a lot of fun, so excited to get going again for the second time."
Sorenstam added: “I am super excited to be here, you know this is one of the nicest places in Sweden and you know Halmstad Golf Club has been hosting some big championships throughout the years.
"To be here for the Volvo Car Scandinavian Mixed is a big deal and to be here hosting with Henrik, and this year we get to have some fans, so we are ready to party."
Stenson is playing his second event on European soil since being appointed Ryder Cup Captain, having produced one of the moments of the week last time out in Germany as he made a spectacular eagle on his 36th hole to make the cut.
And while he admits he is busy with Ryder Cup business, he is still very much focused on competing.
“It has been quite busy, a lot of planning, we have the great team from Ryder Cup Europe and my own team around me, they are all working hard to make sure we get everything done," he said. "There are a lot of processes and we are moving along nicely with quite a few of them, so it is busy, busy.
“I have been working a lot on the long game over the past six months and I feel like it has been trending in the spring, I haven’t really had any results to show of that, but it has been moving in the right direction.
"Maybe a little bit of a setback last week, it didn’t quite feel as good in Hamburg, but we keep on working away and patience and hard work normally pays off."
Sorenstam herself knows what it is like to lead your continent, having been Captain at the 2017 Solheim Cup, and she was proud that the men can now also boast a Swedish leader.
"I'm super excited for Henrik and his family, he's such a great ambassador for the game in a lot of ways and to be the first Swedish Captain is a great honour," she said.
"He's been a trailblazer for men's golf so I think he's going to do a great job. He's a very likeable guy, and I think he will be prepared. I'm sure he's got some good Vice Captains and a team around himself so I'm happy for him. It's big step in his career so if he needs any tips or any advice or any pointers, he can always call me."
Sorenstam teed it up professionally on home soil for the first time in 13 years at this event last season, going on to win the U.S. Senior Women's Open just weeks later.
That earned her a place in the field for last week's U.S Women's Open and she is happy to get the competitive juices flowing again.
"I've enjoyed the last year-and-a-half playing and practising so we'll see," she said.
"It's great to be here. Obviously this is a tough competition, some of the best European players on the men's and women's side but I feel pretty good about my game. I just want to have a good time, play the best I can and be a good hostess, so we'll see."
