A Test of Endurance

After playing her fourth marathon match of the week on Sunday afternoon at Shadow Creek Golf Course, Madelene Sagstrom emerged victorious in Las Vegas, winning 1-up over Lauren Coughlin to capture her second career victory on the LPGA Tour – and her first win in nearly 1,900 days.

The 32-year-old Swede’s path to victory was paved with determination, becoming the first player in the history of this event to compile a perfect 7-0-0 record. If that’s not impressive enough, consider that some of her conquests included proven match-play specialists who excel in Solheim Cup competition.

Sunday Morning Battles

Sagstrom had a relatively smooth start to her Sunday, needing only 16 holes in her morning semifinals match against Angel Yin. She took the lead on the second hole and never looked back, defeating the American 4 and 2.

Coughlin, however, had to grind her way through yet another full match – her sixth straight of at least 18 holes. The Virginia native faced major champion Ariya Jutanugarn and needed until the par-3 17th to claim her first lead of the match, ultimately winning 1-up.

A Championship Rollercoaster

The final match began with Sagstrom seizing control early, winning four of the first six holes to build a commanding 4-up lead. But anyone who’s watched match play knows how quickly momentum can shift.

Coughlin mounted an impressive comeback, winning three straight holes (7, 8, and 9) to cut the deficit to just 1-down at the turn. The American continued her charge, taking holes 11 and 12 to flip the match and go 1-up with six holes remaining.

Sagstrom refused to back down, winning the par-3 13th to square the match. After halving the next two holes, the Swede reclaimed the lead by winning the par-5 16th. From there, she maintained her nerve, matching Coughlin’s scores on the final two holes to secure the victory.

Sweet Reward for Hard Work

“I worked so hard. All of us work so hard,” an emotional Sagstrom said after the final putt dropped. “I really struggled quite a lot, especially with my driver end of last year, and I worked so hard with Callaway and my coach, Hans. I feel so comfortable standing over the ball at the moment, and most of the time, it comes out nice. It’s such a nice feeling.”

For Sagstrom, this victory ends a drought stretching back to the 2020 Gainbridge LPGA at Boca Rio, where she earned her first Rolex First-Time Winner designation. At 32, she’s now the oldest winner on the LPGA Tour since Amy Yang claimed the 2024 KPMG Women’s PGA Championship.

Coughlin’s Impressive Week

Despite the disappointment of falling just short, Coughlin’s performance was nothing short of remarkable. She played a staggering seven matches of at least 18 holes over five days – a true test of physical and mental endurance.

“That I can play 72 holes in two days, which I didn’t know I could do that,” Coughlin reflected when asked about her takeaways from the week. “But, again, I think it’s just who I am as a player is a grinder, and I fought all the way to the end.”

The runner-up added, “I feel like I saw parts of my game be really solid in every single match and parts not great. I don’t feel like I played my best golf this week, and I still almost won. I think that’s a lot of positives I can take away.”

Angel Yin and Ariya Jutanugarn tied for third place, as the consolation match has been eliminated from the tournament format. Sagstrom takes home $300,000 and 500 Race to the CME Globe points for her victory in Sin City.