Annika Sorenstam was delighted to be playing competitive golf on home soil again as history was made on day one of the 2021 Scandinavian Mixed Hosted by Henrik & Annika.
The ten time Major Champion was co hosting the event with fellow Swedish great Henrik Stenson as an evenly split field of men and women played over the same course for one trophy for the first time in European Tour history.
Sorenstam retired in 2008 but has recently started occasionally playing competitively again and in the company of Stenson and fellow Scandinavian great Thomas Bjørn, she hit a shot in anger for the first time in 13 years on home soil.
Her play off the tee was as exquisite as it has always been and despite a disappointing day on the greens seeing her finish at one over, Sorenstam was delighted that her family could see her play again.
"It’s great (to have family here)," said the 50-year-old. "We haven’t been able to be near each other, but for them to be out here and watch, it’s been 13 years since I’ve played in Sweden, and they want to be part of it.
"Especially for the kids to come out here and watch me play. They watch me on the range and the putting green, they know all the time I put in so for them to come out here and watch is very special.
"My parents are out here. It’s a family affair.
"I enjoyed it very, very much. Sometimes it’s not about the score, it’s more about the atmosphere, the people you are with and the surroundings. We could not have asked for a better day."
Stenson fired a two under 70 and while he was not delighted with his score, he enjoyed his historic first mixed grouping on the European Tour.
"It was good to play with Thomas and Annika," he said. "I don’t think it was the prettiest round we could have put together between us, but we finished - we finished as friends - and we live to fight another day.
"That’s probably the best way to describe the golf, but it was good fun."
