Sebastian Söderberg will head into the final round of the Volvo Car Scandinavian Mixed with a commanding eight-stroke lead, poised to claim his second DP World Tour title and his first professional victory on home soil.
The Swede, who secured his maiden DP World Tour win nearly five years ago at the Omega European Masters, is currently in outstanding form. He has achieved two runner-up finishes and a third-place finish in his last four outings.
Reflecting on his performance, Söderberg commented, “It was all-around super solid. A lot of good shots and a lot of good putts, I’ve got nothing to complain about.”
Dominating lead
Söderberg began his third round at Vasatorps Golfklubb with a three-stroke lead but quickly extended his advantage with birdies on the second and third holes. He continued his strong performance with further birdies on the fifth and eighth holes, making the turn at four under par for the day. He then birdied the 12th and 13th holes before dropping his first shot of the tournament on the par-three 14th, as his short-range putt heartbreakingly lipped out.
“I spoke to my brother after the bogey on 14,” Söderberg said. “We were laughing about it because it had to happen eventually. I can’t believe I went so far without a bogey. I brushed it off right away, hit two good shots and a putt on the next.”
Bounce back
Undeterred, he immediately bounced back with his seventh birdie of the day on the 15th hole, finishing the round with a six-under-par 66 and a total score of 21 under par.
“It’s amazing. So many friends and family here. It might not look like I’m taking it all in, but I do. I’ve just been good at staying in my zone and my bubble so far, and that’s what I’ll continue to do tomorrow,” he added.
Leading Lady
Söderberg’s closest competitor is Scotsman Calum Hill, who carded a five-under 67 to sit in solo second place at 13 under par. Tied for third are Ladies European Tour member Alice Hewson from England, Spaniard Santiago Tarrio, and fellow Swede Alexander Björk, all at 12 under par.
Söderberg acknowledged the pressure of leading, saying, “Absolutely, I feel pressure. The weather can be like this and then the margins of error are so much smaller. I really have to keep playing good golf. Mistakes are going to happen, but as long as I don’t get rattled and stick to my game plan, hopefully I’ll do alright.”
Follow the live action with the European Tour: https://www.europeantour.com/dpworld-tour/volvo-car-scandinavian-mixed-2024/leaderboard?round=4
