Introduction to Ingrid Lindblad’s Victory
Ingrid Lindblad grew up figure skating. The dynamic sport of balance and precision tested her limits before she ultimately surrendered the ice for the green full-time. The individuality, besting yourself rather than an opponent to achieve your goals, drove the Swedish golfer as a young athlete — and to top amateur status at Louisiana State. As one of two LPGA rookies atop the JM Eagle LA Championship leaderboard Sunday afternoon, Lindblad needed to channel her success, which propelled her to becoming the 2024 Honda Award winner for golf, the same under-pressure skillset that helped her qualify for the LPGA tour in the first place.
The Road to Victory
Lindblad, 25, converted six birdies Sunday, enough to weather the field and win the LA Championship at El Caballero Country Club in Tarzana — her first LPGA victory in her third career tour start. Lindblad, who missed out on the top 10 in her first two starts, charged into the conversation Friday with a career-low nine-under 63 to tie the tournament scoring record. She bookended the second round with four-under performances in the first and third rounds.
The Final Showdown
Sunday’s finale wasn’t in her hands. Fellow rookie Akie Iwai missed a 13-foot putt on the 18th hole that would have forced a playoff after tying the score at 21-under with a 16th-hole birdie. “You expect your opponent to make, make the chip, make the putt,” Lindblad said. “She played really well this week too. I was expecting her to make it.” Iwai, who played alongside her identical twin sister, Chisato, on Saturday, curved a last-chance shot from behind a tree to try and cut into the lead to set up her birdie putt.
Overcoming Challenges
Earlier in the round, Iwai, who entered Sunday tied with Lindblad and tour veteran Lauren Coughlin at 17-under, stalled after her sixth-hole bogey. Lindblad also lost steam, settling for par on every hole after the 11th. But she found a lucky touch to maintain her lead. On the eighth hole, after driving the ball into the rough — a sand patch near a fan viewing zone — Lindblad skipped a ball about 50 yards onto the green to create a short putt opportunity. She sank the birdie, her fifth of the day, to place her at 20 under and a two-stroke lead with 10 holes remaining.
Outpacing the Competition
Even when her drives left plenty to be desired, struggling to find the fairway on multiple holes, Lindblad would save par to keep distance between second place. Lindblad sliced a ball on the 13th hole that sailed far wide and off a tree. “I was not always friends with my driver,” Lindblad said. The ball, however, ricocheted off the tree and toward the fairway rather than out of bounds. Lindblad eventually made par. The 10th hole — a par four — appeared to be a potential bogey after Lindblad left the ball short of the putting green and into a bunker on her second shot. But after a nifty chip, she was able to keep par with a 15-foot putt.
Conclusion
It was shots such as her 10th-hole sand save that was proof that it may be Lindblad’s day in Tarzana. “I know my sand saves aren’t the greatest percentage this year so far,” Lindblad said. “Making that up and down on both [the second hole] from the bunker and on 10 from the bunker, I was just happy to make par.” Lindblad outpaced attempts to cut into her lead from the top-two ranked women’s golfers. Nelly Korda, No. 1 in the world, began the day tied for third and finished at 14 under. Just below Korda in the rankings, Jeeno Thitikul made a run toward the top of the standings by birdieing her first four holes, but ultimately settled in a tie for ninth place going 16 under.
FAQs
Who won the LA Championship?
Ingrid Lindblad won the LA Championship at El Caballero Country Club in Tarzana.
What was Lindblad’s score?
Lindblad scored 21-under to win the championship.
How much prize money did Lindblad win?
Lindblad won $562,500 in prize money.
What is Lindblad’s plan after her first tour win?
Lindblad plans to reassess her rookie-season goals after her first tour win.
What is the next LPGA major tournament?
The next LPGA major tournament is the Chevron Championship.
