Who's who: Helen Alfredsson

  • Torrey Pines - South course, host of the Farmers Insurance Open
  • Prince's GC, England
  • Torrey Pines - South course, host of the Farmers Insurance Open
  • Terras da Comporta, Dunas
  • Monte Rei G&CC
  • Marco Simone GC (Italy); host of the Ryder Cup 2023
  • Pebble Beach host of the US Open; US Women's Open; Pebble Beach Pro-Am
  • Marco Simone GC

Who's who: Helen Alfredsson

  • Name:

    Helen Christine Alfredsson
  • Country:

    Sweden
  • Born:

    April 9, 1965 in Gothenburg, Sweden.
  • Original/Home Club:

    Gullbringa G&CC
  • Occupation:

    Professional golfer
  • Turned Pro:

    1989
  • Website:

    https://www.helenalfredsson.com

Roll of Honour

MAJORS (1): Nabisco Dinah Shore (1993). Senior MAJORS (2): US Snr Women's Open (2019); Snr LPGA Championship (2019). Solheim Cup player (1990, '92, '94, '96, '98, 2000, '02, '09). Solheim Cup captain (2007). Multiple wins on the Ladies European Tour (11), LPGA Tour (7) and other international professional tours. Ladies European Tour Rookie of the Year (1989) and Order of Merit winner (1998). LPGA Tour Rookie of the Year (1992).

Did you know?

"Alfie" as she is known on tour, graduated from the U.S. International University, which is based in San Diego, California. After graduation, she initially tried a career as a model in Paris, although a few appearances on Sweden's Telia golf tour, convinced her to switch to golf.

She turned professional in 1989 and became the LET's Rookie of the Year that same year. Having turned pro, Tour success came quickly in Europe and the United States, with additional wins coming in Japan and Australia.

Alfredsson was a popular choice as captain of the European team for the 2007 Solheim Cup, which was played in Sweden. Home-advantage didn't work on this occasion however; the Americans came out 16-12 winners. Playing on the Legends Tour (women's senior golf tour) from 2015, Alfredsson won both women's senior major championships in 2019 (the US Snr Women's Open and Snr LPGA Championship). Alfredsson is married to the former National Hockey League player Kent Nilsson.

Top tournaments won by Helen Alfredsson

Category

Women

Winner (holder)

Alfredsson, Helen

Score

285 (+1)

Prize money

$180,000

Title sponsor

USGA

Played as the U.S. Senior Women's Open (2nd) (May 16-19). Second-placed Juli Inkster (USA) and Trish Johnson (Eng) finished 2 shots behind Alfredsson (Swe), who recorded her first senior major championship victory. [Pine Needles Lodge & GC, Southern Pines, NC].

2019
Women
214 (-2)
$100,000
Old Natl Bank

Category

Women

Winner (holder)

Alfredsson, Helen

Score

214 (-2)

Prize money

$100,000

Title sponsor

Old Natl Bank

Played as the Senior LPGA Championship presented by Old National Bank (3rd) (Oct 14-17; major championship for senior women). Second-placed Juli Inkster (USA) finished 3 shots behind Alfredsson (Swe). "Alfie" recorded a clean sweep of the women's senior majors in 2019, having already won the US Senior Women's Open in May. [Pete Dye course, French Lick Resort, Indiana].

2008
Asia
204 (-12)
$270,000
Grand China Air

Category

Asia

Winner (holder)

Alfredsson, Helen

Score

204 (-12)

Prize money

$270,000

Title sponsor

Grand China Air

Played as the inaugural (and only) Grand China Air LPGA (Oct 24-26; LPGA Tr event). Second-placed Yani Tseng (Taiw) finished 3 shots behind Helen Alfredsson (Swe), who recorded the last of her seven LPGA Tour wins. The first LPGA Tour event played in China. [West Coast GC, Haikou, Hainan island, China].

2008
Europe
273 (-15)
US$487,500
Evian

Category

Europe

Winner (holder)

Alfredsson, Helen

Score

273 (-15)

Prize money

US$487,500

Title sponsor

Evian

Played as the Evian Masters (July 24-27; LET/LPGA Trs event; recognised as a major ch'ship by the LET, but not by the LPGA Tour). Alfredsson (Swe) beat Na Yeon Choi (S Kor) at the third playoff hole to win her third Evian Masters title. Angela Park (Brazil) was eliminated at the first playoff hole. [Evian Masters GC, Evian-les-Bains, France].

2003
America
Lincoln Hills
275 (-13)
$150,000
Longs Drugs

Category

America

Winner (holder)

Alfredsson, Helen

Venue

Lincoln Hills

Score

275 (-13)

Prize money

$150,000

Title sponsor

Longs Drugs

Played as the Longs Drugs Challenge (Oct 2-5). Second-placed Pat Hurst (USA), Rachel Teske (Aus, née Hetherington), Se Ri Pak (S Kor), Grace Park (S Kor) and Jung Yeon Lee (S Kor) finished 1 shot behind Alfredsson (Swe). [Lincoln Hills CC, Lincoln, California].

Category

Europe

Winner (holder)

Alfredsson, Helen

Score

276 (-16)

Prize money

€97,944

Title sponsor

WPGA

Played as the WPGA Championship of Europe. Second-placed Suzann Pettersen (Nor) finished 4 shots behind Alfredsson (Swe), who recorded her tenth Ladies European Tour win. [Royal Porthcawl GC, Mid Glamorgan, South Wales].

1998
America
274 (-14)
$75,000
Welch's/Circle K

Category

America

Winner (holder)

Alfredsson, Helen

Score

274 (-14)

Prize money

$75,000

Title sponsor

Welch's/Circle K

Played as the Welch's/Circle K Championship (March 12-15). Second-placed Dana Dormann (USA) and Liselotte Neumann (Swe) finished 1 shot behind Alfredsson (Swe). [North course, Randolph GC, Tucson, AZ].

1998
Awards
£125,975
see Score
Eurpn LPGA

Category

Awards

Winner (holder)

Alfredsson, Helen

Venue

Score

£125,975

Prize money

see Score

Title sponsor

Eurpn LPGA

Alfredsson (Swe) won the European LPGA Tour 1998 Order of Merit, with earnings of £125,975 on the Tour. Sophie Gustafson (Swe) was second with £103,443; Maria Hjorth (Swe) was third with £77,733.

1998
America
Ibis G&CC
277 (-11)
$90,000
Office Depot

Category

America

Winner (holder)

Alfredsson, Helen

Venue

Ibis G&CC

Score

277 (-11)

Prize money

$90,000

Title sponsor

Office Depot

Played as The Office Depot (Jan 22-25; formerly Diet Dr Pepper National Pro-Am). Second-placed Liselotte Neumann (Swe) finished 2 shots behind Alfredsson (Swe). [Legend course, Ibis G&CC, West Palm Beach, FL].

1998
Europe
277 (-11)
£75,000
Evian

Category

Europe

Winner (holder)

Alfredsson, Helen

Score

277 (-11)

Prize money

£75,000

Title sponsor

Evian

Played as the Evian Masters (June 3-6; Eurpn Ladies' PGA Tr season-opener; LET major ch'ship). Second-placed Maria Hjorth (Swe) finished 4 shots behind Alfredsson (Swe). [Evian Masters GC, Evian-les-Bains, France].

Category

Europe

Winner (holder)

Alfredsson, Helen

Score

276 (-12)

Prize money

£45,000

Title sponsor

McDonald's

Played as the McDonald's WPGA Championship of Europe (Aug 7-10). Second-placed Charlotta Sorenstam (Swe) and Kathryn Marshall (Scot) finished 4 shots behind Alfredsson (Swe). [King's course, Gleneagles Hotel, Auchterarder, Perthshire].

Category

Europe

Winner (holder)

Alfredsson, Helen

Score

280 (-8)

Prize money

£9,000

Title sponsor

Hennessy

Played as the Hennessy Cup (July 4-7). Alfredsson (Swe) beat Trish Johnson (Eng) and Liselotte Neumann (Swe) in a playoff. [Golf & Land Club Köln, Refrath, nr Cologne].

1994
America
Blue Hill CC, MA
274 (-14)
$67,500
PING/Welch's

Category

America

Winner (holder)

Alfredsson, Helen

Venue

Blue Hill CC, MA

Score

274 (-14)

Prize money

$67,500

Title sponsor

PING/Welch's

Played as the PING/Welch's Championship. Second-placed Pat Bradley (USA) and Juli Inkster (USA) finished 4 shots behind Alfredsson (Swe). [Blue Hill CC, Canton, nr Boston, MA].

1994
Europe
287 (-1)
£34,875
Evian

Category

Europe

Winner (holder)

Alfredsson, Helen

Score

287 (-1)

Prize money

£34,875

Title sponsor

Evian

The inaugural Evian Masters (June 9-12; LET major ch'ship). Second-placed Sarah Gautrey (Aus) and Lora Fairclough (Eng) finished 3 shots behind Alfredsson (Swe). [Evian Masters GC, Evian-les-Bains, France; at the time known as Royal GC].

Category

Majors

Winner (holder)

Alfredsson, Helen

Score

284 (-4)

Prize money

$105,000

Title sponsor

Nabisco

Played as the Nabisco Dinah Shore (22nd) (March 25-28). Second-placed Amy Benz (USA), Tina Barrett (USA) and Betsy King (USA) finished 2 shots behind Alfredsson (Swe), who recorded her first and only major championship win. [Dinah Shore Tournament course, Mission Hills CC, Rancho Mirage, CA].

1992
Europe
271 (-17)
£18,000
Hennessy

Category

Europe

Winner (holder)

Alfredsson, Helen

Score

271 (-17)

Prize money

£18,000

Title sponsor

Hennessy

Played as the Hennessy Ladies Cup (July 9-12). Second-placed Trish Johnson (Eng) finished 1 shot behind defending champion Alfredsson (Swe). [Golf & Land Club Köln, Refrath, nr Cologne].

1992
Europe
278 (-14)
£13,500
IBM

Category

Europe

Winner (holder)

Alfredsson, Helen

Venue

Haninge

Score

278 (-14)

Prize money

£13,500

Title sponsor

IBM

Played as the IBM Ladies Open (Aug 27-30). Second-placed Liselotte Neumann (Swe) finished 2 shots behind Alfredsson (Swe). [Haninge GC, nr Stockholm, Sweden].

1992
Awards
x
$262,115
LPGA Tr

Category

Awards

Winner (holder)

Alfredsson, Helen

Venue

Score

x

Prize money

$262,115

Title sponsor

LPGA Tr

Alfredsson (Swe) won the LPGA Tour 1992 Louise Suggs Rookie of the Year Award as the leading first-season player. Award based on a points accumulation for finishes in Tour events. Alfredsson finished 16th on the LPGA money list, with earnings of $262,115.

1991
Europe
276 (-12)
£15,000
Skol

Category

Europe

Winner (holder)

Alfredsson, Helen

Score

276 (-12)

Prize money

£15,000

Title sponsor

Skol

Played as the Trophée Coconut Skol (June 20-23). Second-placed Dale Reid (Scot) finished 3 shots behind Alfredsson (Swe). [Saint Germain GC, Saint-Germain-en-Laye, nr Paris].

Category

Europe

Winner (holder)

Alfredsson, Helen

Score

280 (-8)

Prize money

£15,000

Title sponsor

Hennessy

Played as the Hennessy Ladies Cup (June 13-16). Alfredsson (Swe) beat Marie-Laure de Lorenzi (Fra) and Corinne Dibnah (Aus) in a playoff. [Golf & Land Club Köln, Refrath, nr Cologne].

1991
Europe
275 (-13)
£16,950
B&H

Category

Europe

Winner (holder)

Alfredsson, Helen

Score

275 (-13)

Prize money

£16,950

Title sponsor

B&H

Played as the Benson & Hedges Trophy (Nov 7-10; European and LET Trs mixed pairs unofficial money event). Second-placed Malcolm Mackenzie & Penny Grice-Whittaker (Eng), and Bryan Norton & Pearl Sinn (USA) finished 2 shots behind the winning team of Anders Forsbrand & Helen Alfredsson (Swe), who shared the £33,900 first prize. [Las Brisas GC, Nueva Andalucía, Costa del Sol. Now called Real (Royal) Las Brisas].

1990
Europe
288 (-4)
£20,000
Weetabix

Category

Europe

Winner (holder)

Alfredsson, Helen

Score

288 (-4)

Prize money

£20,000

Title sponsor

Weetabix

Played as the Weetabix Women's British Open (Aug 2-5). Alfredsson (Swe) beat Jane Hill (Zim) at the fourth playoff hole, to record her first win on the Women's Professional Golf European Tour. [Duke's course, Woburn GC, nr Milton Keynes, Bucks].

1989
Awards
£20,356
see Score
WPG Eurpn Tr

Category

Awards

Winner (holder)

Alfredsson, Helen

Venue

Score

£20,356

Prize money

see Score

Title sponsor

WPG Eurpn Tr

Alfredsson (Swe) won the WPG European Tour 1989 Rookie of the Year Award as the leading first-season player. She finished 20th on the Tour's (money-based) Order of Merit, with earnings of £20,356.

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Tournaments

Ryder Cup: Rome plays host to the first ever Ryder Cup to be staged in Italy, with the USA defending golf’s greatest team trophy at Marco Simone Golf & Country Club (Sept 29-Oct 1).

Solheim Cup: also in September, also in southern Europe, the 18th Solheim Cup will be contested at Finca Cortesin on the Costa del Sol, with Europe defending after their surprise win in Toledo, Inverness Club (Ohio) in 2021 (Sept 22-24). 

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Alex Cejka: buffeted by rain and high winds, especially on the high-scoring final day, Čejka prevailed over Pádraig Harrington in a playoff at Royal Porthcawl, to scoop the Senior Open Championship title.

Marco Simone Golf & Country Club

Marco Simone Golf & Country Club: With a clubhouse that might befit a Roman Emperor, and a golf course to match, you can be sure of a memorable outing at Rome's most talked about golf facility.

Jim Fazio's original layout was much changed to create a modern Ryder Cup course ... now one of the Eternal City's (and Italy's) most revered.

Prince's Golf Club, Kent (UK)

Here at Prince’s Golf Club you'll find 27 excellent holes of links golf. Just over the fence and sharing similar terrain is Royal St George’s; but Prince’s is far from overshadowed by its venerable neighbour. The three nine-hole loops at Prince's, laid out over gently undulating terrain, are sure to bring a smile of satisfaction to all lovers of links golf.

Stay&Play at Prince's: excellent onsite Lodge accommodation available

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