“For months now, this is what I’ve been waiting for.”
Despite six consecutive missed cuts, Pernilla Lindberg stuck to the process and today her patience paid off. The major champion carded a 7-under 66 at Galgorm Golf Club in the final round of the ISPS Handa World Invitational presented by Modest! Golf Management to finish the inaugural event at -11.
“I’ve worked hard on all aspects of my game but coming into this season I knew my irons have always been where I can improve the most,” said Lindberg. “I started the year and felt like I was hitting my irons the best I ever have then suddenly I wasn’t putting as well as I normally do, which has been my strength.
“Sticking to my process means believing in the work I’m doing and the ability to put it all [strengths and weaknesses] together. I’m still kind of bummed about my first nine holes at Massereene on Thursday and my back nine here [at Galgorm] yesterday. But besides that, everything was positive, so that’s what I will take with me.”
Lindberg scored nine birdies on Sunday for a four-round total of 24, the second-highest birdie count in a tournament during her 12-year LPGA Tour career (25 at the 2016 JTBC Founders Cup). The Swede will now take two weeks off to spend time with family in Europe and prepare for the final major of the 2021 season at the AIG Women’s Open.
“As golfers, we tell ourselves to keep sticking to the process and good things are going to happen,” said Lindberg. “I’ve really said that so many times over these last couple months. I just needed to have that one good week and I feel like things can kind of open up from here, hopefully keep building.”