Facts: International Crown
+ The eight best countries, in terms of world ranking, participate.
+ Group A: USA, Sweden, England, China.
+ Group B: South Korea, Japan, Thailand, Australia.
+ In the group stage, Thursday–Saturday, each team match was decided in the form of two best ball matches. The top two teams in each group advanced to the semi-finals (Sweden, USA and Thailand and Australia, respectively).
+ In the semifinals and final on Sunday, a team match consists of a foursome match and two singles instead.
+ The International Crown has previously been played in 2014, 2016 and 2018. Sweden has participated twice (second in 2014 and fifth in 2018).
+ Previous winners are Spain (2014), USA (2016) and South Korea (2018).
Anna Nordqvist and Caroline Hedwall defeated Nelly Korda and Lilia Vu from the USA in the LPGA team competition International Crown in San Francisco in California, USA.
— You definitely leave the golf course with a lot of adrenaline and excitement and know that it was a really tough match. I mean, we are playing against Nelly and Lilia who are like number one and number four in the world, so we knew it would be a tough match, says Nordqvist.
Compatriots Madelene Sagström and Maja Stark had to settle for a draw against Lexi Thompson and Danielle Kang.
— We fought all day today. We probably didn’t play as well as we did the last two days, says Sagström, adding that she was the one who didn’t perform at times.
— But it was so much fun. It was important to get it. We reached a draw but it is important to have that unbeaten streak, she continues.
The Swedes thus win the group, and face Australia in the semis.
— Everyone has played super stable, so it’s just cruel that we are in this situation. We are ready, says Sagström.
Sweden’s opponent in the final group stage meeting, the USA, also advances and faces Thailand on Sunday, local time. The semi-finals and final are decided by three matches: one foursome and two singles.