There are several lucky talismans hiding within the confines of Madelene Sagstrom’s golf bag at any given moment.

A rock that was given to her by a close friend who has since passed away is one of the most treasured mementos that always travels with the Swede from tournament to tournament. Many of the items have been given to her by her loved ones, each possessing its own unique significance in context of her different familial relationships.

One of the latest additions to Sagstrom’s chachki repertoire is a handmade bracelet she received from a young fan while competing in the KPMG Women’s Irish Open on the Ladies European Tour in July, a token the LPGA*USGA Girls Golf ambassador felt deserved a special place alongside her other trinkets, no matter how recently it was acquired.

And while her caddie, Shane Dodd, ribs her a bit for the increasing weight of her Callaway staff bag, Sagstrom happily ignores his protests, content to collect as many bits and bobs as she wants, knowing how important it is to the giver that she lovingly squirrels them away.

“It's just always nice when people take their time and do something for you,” Sagstrom said after finishing her second round at the FM Championship. “I try to keep all those things even though (my caddie) doesn't like it, but I like it.”

It’s hard to guess which of her charms has brought Sagstrom the most luck this week in her 15th event of the season, but the 32-year-old isn’t questioning the good fortune she’s been on the receiving end of throughout her first 36 holes in Norton, Mass.

The 2025 T-Mobile Match Play presented by MGM Rewards champion is currently sitting alone in fourth at 9-under through two rounds just outside of Bean Town and was one of the lucky players who actually got to complete their second round on Friday, a day that saw weather delays plague the field from mid-morning well into the evening at TPC Boston.

She opened her second appearance in the FM Championship with a 3-under 69 on Thursday after carding one double bogey on the par-5 2nd hole and five birdies, three of which came consecutively on the par-4 14th, par-4 15th and par-3 16th holes in Sagstrom’s opening nine.

The veteran then went bogey-free in round two, posting a flawless 66 that saw her notch a pair of back-to-back birdies on six and seven to climb to 5-under for the tournament before she rattled off four straight birdies on Nos. 13 through 16, her longest birdie streak of the 2025 LPGA Tour season.

And while it was a mad dash to the finish line on her closing two holes with more inclement weather on the way, Sagstrom managed to close out round two with a pair of pars to ultimately post her first round of 66 or better since April, when she fired a 65 on day one of the JM Eagle LA Championship presented by Plastpro at El Caballero Country Club.

“After I made my birdie on 16, I looked over my shoulder, and it was dark. I go, ‘Oh, no,’” said Sagstrom. “We were looking at each other like, ‘Let's run. let's do this.’ Lucky to get it in, to be honest. I think it's going to be the same kind of thing – well, now they just blew the horn, so it's going to be a bit on and off the whole afternoon. We got a lucky wave this week, playing late, early, so sometimes you do. I always say it equals out, so going to go back to the hotel and relax.”

Sagstrom will begin her third round in a chasing position, five strokes behind 36-hole leader Sei Young Kim, who is sitting at 14-under after recording a 7-under 65 on Saturday morning. The Swede hasn’t found herself in a contention scenario much since collecting her second career title at the T-Mobile Match Play in the spring, having only finished inside the top 20 twice since that triumph at the U.S. Women’s Open presented by Ally (T19) and the Meijer LPGA Classic for Simply Give (T14).

But now, Sagstrom will be working to make the most of this latest opportunity at TPC Boston, now confidently pursuing a spot in victory lane as she tries to end the LPGA Tour’s streak of 23 different champions over the weekend at the second playing of the FM Championship.

“I feel like this is a very much momentum sport,” Sagstrom said. “The days you play well, you think you're the best in the world. The days you play bad, I always say I'm going to go home and work in the supermarket. I fluctuate between those daily. I think, of course, it brings a lot of confidence and just knowing that I've done good work.

“Going into Canada, I was like, ‘Let's put a little bit more time, a little bit more effort.’ I putted a lot more than I have done in the past these last couple of weeks, so trying to see if something works, trying to find something. Of course, when you play well, your confidence grows a lot.”

Madelene Sagstrom Sitting Within Reach of the Lead at FM Championship

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