It is a busy week for the Engström family with Julia playing in the Volvo Car Scandinavian Mixed and Jakob graduating from high school.
The 21-year-old had a solid start to her week at Halmstad Golf Club with a round of 68 (-4) before following that up with a 72 (E) on day two.
And the two-time LET winner is making sure to enjoy the comforts of being at home and competing on a course she has played at countless times.
“I have played here many times. I don’t even know if I can count them! It is so different playing a tournament here than it is to go out playing,” said the Swedish star.
“During the practise round everyone was putting, and chipping and I thought oh yes, I need to do this too because when I play here, I just play. You don’t think about it. It’s fun and it is nice to be home as well.
“It was good to be out there and play, I made some good shots and sunk a few putts. I left some out there as well, but when I was in trouble, I managed to solve that very well, which was fun.”
The Volvo Car Scandinavian Mixed is a co-sanctioned event between the LET and DP World Tour and it sees 78 men and 78 women playing for the same prize fund of US $2 million and one trophy.
As a youngster, Engström watched the Solheim Cup being played here and she is thankful for the work hosts Henrik Stenson and Annika Sörenstam have done for this tournament.
“It is a great feeling and surreal to be driving the roads you always do and then you’re on the way to the tournament,” she continued.
“The Solheim Cup in 2007 was a while ago, but I remember it and it is nice for Annika and Henrik to be here and promoting this tournament and making it happen and for me to have it here in Halmstad is just great.”
And the 2018 LET Rookie of the Year has plenty of support up and down the fairways, though her parents haven’t been able to attend the first couple of days.
She explained: “My parents were in preparation mode yesterday for the graduation reception for him today, so they couldn’t be here, but my brother actually walked 18 holes today.
“I had my boyfriend here and my best friend is my caddie, and I had some local support too. I had plenty of support. If I play the weekend, they’ll probably come out here but today they had a lot going on!”
It has been a comeback year for Engström, who has returned to Tour life after taking the whole of 2021 off on a medical due to a back injury.
But the Swede now believes she is regaining strength needed to play tournament golf and hopes to keep finding her form and improving as the year progresses.
She added: “At the beginning [of the year] I knew the game was there, but I couldn’t keep it going for 18 holes let alone two or three rounds.
“Now I feel like it is slowly getting there and I’m slowly finding the right edge playing tournament golf, when the pins are on the edges etc. Hopefully, I can keep this momentum going, that would be fun.”
Follow all the action on @LETGolf on Instagram and Twitter and Ladies European Tour on Facebook and YouTube – #RaiseOurGame #ScandinavianMixed.
