The concept of a mixed golf tournament – women against men – in Sweden may be scrapped.
The question is whether there will even be a European Championship tournament for men on Swedish soil next year.
I know that they are discussing the future overall, says Gunnar Håkansson, secretary general of the golf association.
Scandinavian Mixed has been played annually since 2021, but according to information to TT, the men's European Tour (now DP World Tour) is planning to scrap the mixed concept.
I haven't got it confirmed, but I know they are discussing the future overall. I know that such discussions are taking place, but no more, says Gunnar Håkansson, secretary general of the Swedish Golf Association.
"Crazy amounts of money"
Sweden has had at least one European Championship tournament for men every year – except for the pandemic year 2020 – since 1973. Previously, the association owned the tournament, but during the 2010s it was sold, and since 2019, DP World Tour has been running the tournament.
Sweden is seen as an important market, but financing is a tough nut to crack. The prize money in the Swedish tournament has long been one of the smallest on the tour, and for several years, DP World Tour has also been arranging tournaments in, for example, the Middle East, South Africa, and China.
It's crazy amounts of money nowadays. But I'm quite hopeful – that something will happen eventually, but exactly what it will be, I have no idea, says Håkansson.
Male players have criticized the mixed tournament because only 78 male players (half of the starting field) get a spot, compared to the normal 156 players during a regular week.
That's one of the arguments the players' union has been pushing for. I think that sometimes players have too little perspective on golf development. They focus too much on their own short-term income. It's a general problem with professional golf.
"Spotlight on women's golf"
Swede Linn Grant has won two out of four editions (2022 and 2024) of Scandinavian Mixed – the other two have been won by male players Jonathan Caldwell and Dale Whitnell, both from England.
This has given a lot of spotlight to women's golf, and that Linn has managed to win twice is very strong. It shows how skilled they are and puts this into perspective, which I think you should consider.
This year, the women's European Tour (LET) also held a tournament in Helsingborg in late May-early June, and the hope is that Sweden will remain on the schedule for 2025.
We have a dialogue with LET ourselves. The money is manageable, we can finance it within the framework of Swedish golf. Nothing is clear yet, but it looks quite promising for next year, says Gunnar Håkansson.
