Maja Stark

A blockbuster summer of women’s golf is in the offing – and Maja Stark can’t wait to be at the heart of it.

The 24-year-old will represent Sweden at the Olympics in Paris, alongside Linn Grant [below], Ludvig Aberg and Alex Noren. The Women’s Individual Stroke Play event will begin at Le Golf National on Wednesday 7 August.

Maja will then tee it up at the AIG Women’s Open – the final major of the year – at St Andrews just two weeks later.

It promises to be a month that will live long in the memory.

“Making the Olympics team is one of the best things I’ve done in my life,” said Maja.

“I’ve always loved watching the Olympics. You cannot reach me for a month during the Olympics because I am just sat in front of the TV watching it all.

“It’s going to be super cool.

“We get so much support from the Swedish golf team. We don’t normally get the chance to do a lot of stuff with the guys. There is one camp a year but that’s mainly for amateurs.

“But it’s always been great to be a part of the Sweden team.”

Maja has posted a number of impressive results on the LPGA Tour in 2024, most notably when she was runner-up to Nelly Korda in the Chevron Championship – her best finish in a major – in April.

“To do what I did at the Chevron was really pleasing,” she said. “When I finished ninth at the US Women’s Open last year, that felt massive. But I felt more comfortable at the Chevron because I was in the mindset of ‘just keep playing’.”

Major season will be brought to a close in spectacular fashion with St Andrews set to stage the AIG Women’s Open for the third time.

The Championship will take place between 22-25 August with the world’s best players competing to win one of golf’s biggest prizes at the sport’s spiritual home.

It will be Maja’s first experience of the Old Course – and one she is very much relishing.

Maja said: “I’ve never been to St Andrews before so maybe that will make it even better for me; to be there for a major when there are so many spectators there, when all the grandstands are up and the buzz that will be happening.

“It just helps to elevate our tournaments so much more when we can play them in these famous, historic places.

“I’ll approach St Andrews the way I do any other venue. I won’t ask anyone for advice because I find that when I ask other players especially, their advice is based so much around their game. But I’ll do my research in my own way and go in with a fresh mindset, a different mindset.

“I can’t imagine what it will be like for the British players to play at St Andrews, but I’m certainly excited by it.”

She continued: “I love links golf. I love how creative you have to be. I’m used to heathland courses so I’m used to the hard surfaces and a bit of wind, but probably nothing like we’ll see in Scotland!

“I love the patience that you need to have with links golf, how things can change so quickly and what you need to do to adapt.

“The AIG Women’s Open is always cool regardless. But to have it at St Andrews just means it will be top, top class.”