Sofie Bringner is set to enjoy a double advantage this week at the Hills Open – competing not only in her home country, but also on her home course at Hills Golf & Sports Club.
She is one of 19 Swedish players in the 132-player field, with the tournament kicking off on Friday.
Originally from Orust, an island an hour north of Gothenburg, she moved to the city six years ago and has been a Hills member for 10 years, making it an easy commute this week.
Her journey to Hills came at a pivotal time. “Before I moved here, I almost stopped playing golf,” she recalls. “At my old club, I was the only one competing at that level, so I always practiced alone. My parents encouraged me to move somewhere with more juniors. When I came to Hills, there were so many girls – really good girls too. It felt amazing. I joined when I was 17 or 18, right after I got my driver’s license, and I also switched coaches to one based here. I’d go to school and then drive straight here afterwards.”
The move reignited her enjoyment in golf, as she then won the Swedish Matchplay Championship in 2021 – her first win as a professional.
This season has been a mixed bag for Bringner, though a recent runner-up finish at the PIF London Championship team event has boosted her confidence. “My game has been good, but it hasn’t always shown on the scorecard,” she admitted. “In London, everything came together. I was a bit disappointed with the final day, but it showed me it’s there. I’ve been struggling with putting, so if I can hole a few more, it will be great.”
Bringner knows the Hills course well but respects its challenge. “It’s tough – you need to put yourself in the right spots all the time. The key is hitting fairways. You really need to be precise off the tee and think carefully about your shots.”
The 28-year-old will have lots of home support this week.
“My parents are coming, my cousin, and friends from where I grew up. I really appreciate that. I like to have them here and it’s not very often they are out to watch. It’s tricky for Mum and Dad to get to some of the events so it’s really nice to have them here this week.”
Adding to the sense of familiarity, her caddie this week is Alfred, a friend she met when first joining Hills. “My favourite memory here is when we won the junior match play team competition in 2018. Alfred was part of that, and we’ve practiced and played so much together over the years. It’s really nice to have him on the bag – he knows the course as well as I do, maybe even better.”
Last week’s off-week saw a mix of golf and downtime. “I played quite a lot, but I also spent time at my parents’ place by the sea – it’s so nice there in summer. And I went to a concert in Gothenburg – Miriam Bryant, who’s also from there.”
Fellow Swede Linda Wessberg, a 15-year Hills member, will also enjoy home advantage, while Sweden’s Andrea Lignell and Iceland’s Andrea Bergsdottir add further local knowledge to the field.
Commenting on her home course, Wessberg said: “It’s a great golf course, you can have a lot of different golf shots off the tee. There are lots of options.”
Also being from Gothenburg, she continued: “It’s a fun city – there are lots of good restaurants – also ones with great city views where you can see the water. If you like seafood, it’s a great place to have fresh fish and crayfish.“
Balancing life at home with tournament week brings a unique twist.
“It feels a little surreal having the tournament here. My daughter actually started school yesterday, so it’s a bit strange being at home and competing at the same time. But I feel very relaxed and I’m really looking forward to it. I think the players will love it here.”
The local support will also be strong. “As well as family and friends, I’m also coaching at a club which is an hour north, so there’s some members up there coming here this week, and I also coach at the practice facility called World of Golf here, so I know some of them are coming out to watch which is really nice. I’m looking forward to having a lot of people around that I know.”
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