When the first round of the 2025 LPGA Legends Championship kicked off, the top of the leaderboard was quite crowded. Trish Johnson, Jill McGill, Cristie Kerr and Charlotta Sorenstam were all hanging around in a tie for first, but it was Sorenstam who pulled away from the group, ending the day with the solo lead.

The Swede went bogey-free, signing for a 6-under round that consisted of three birdies on both nines, a very different opening 18 holes than her 2024 playing of 12-over, 84.

“I had a little revenge from last year's first round, and I was playing so good,” said Sorenstam. “The 18th hole was the only green I missed today, actually. I got a little defensive there on my approach shot. The wind kind of had me deciding between two clubs, and I decided the longer one, and I just decelerated. So getting it up and down was really nice to see the ball drop in.”

It was evident that momentum was building toward the end of the 52-year-old’s round, as she rolled in three consecutive birdies on Copper Rock Golf Course’s 15th, 16th and 17th holes, throwing fist pumps along the way.

“I had some really good shots out there today, and I'm happy with the way I putted,” said Sorenstam. “I played smart, I did my numbers good because the way the course is playing, you can't really attack the pins. You got to really know where you need to carry to get that little hop and roll because most of the greens are kind of firm.”

Outside of the ropes, the LPGA Tour winner now coaches golf at IMG Academy in Bradenton, Fla., helping shape the next generation of PGA and LPGA Tour stars. In fact, one of the academy’s former students, Hsin Tai Lin, whom Sorenstam spent time coaching, just added “National Champion” to her resume with Northwestern University Women’s Golf.

The night before teeing it up at the LPGA Legends Championship, Sorenstam watched Lin defeat a fellow Swede, Meja Ortengren, in their match, giving Northwestern another point on the board against Stanford University.

“I was very proud of how she conducted herself. She normally doesn't express herself, or hasn't in the past, but I think one year in college has really made her grow, and I loved hearing her interview,” said Sorenstam. “That's what I was striving for when I was working with her, to have that attitude, and I think that she's grown a lot, and it's nice to see. Congratulations, Hsin Tai (Lin), well done.”

Cristie Kerr, Leta Lindley and Moira Dunn-Bohls share second place, three shots shy of Sorenstam at 3-under. After a repair based on score, Kerr and Lindley will join Sorenstam in the final grouping on Friday. The trio is off the first hole at 11:12 a.m. local time.

Sorenstam Takes Early Lead at LPGA Legends Championship

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