Swedish Precision – Henrik Stenson

Tom Ferrell

Golf is a funny game. Just ask Henrik Stenson. Ever since Liselotte Neumann—captain of the victorious European team in the 2013 Solheim Cup at Colorado Golf club—led the Swedish invasion of professional golf, that small country has become known for producing stoic, resilient champions. Think Annika Sorenstam. 

Henrik Stenson, who last weekend won the TOUR Championship—his second PGA TOUR playoffs victory, along with the Deutsche Bank Championship—and the FedEx Cup, is NOT that kind of player. He may look somewhat robotic, with that perfect swing and eyes hidden behind his sunglasses. But he is as fiery as they come. Just ask the locker room attendants at Conway Farms, who are busy replacing the locker that Stenson destroyed (AFTER destroying his driver) following a poor showing at the BMW Championships.

That fire has helped Stenson regain the form that just a few years ago made him one of golf’s most promising stars. Before he cratered and fell into the 200s in the World Golf Rankings, Stenson won a WGC Match Play title (2007) and a Player’s Championship (2009). Then it seemed he would never be heard from again. 

Whatever his issues—on-course habits or entanglement in the Sanford Financial meltdown—Stenson is back. With a vengeance. Since July he has been the hottest golfer on the planet, recording six top-three finishes in his last eight events. That includes the two playoff wins, T2 at the British Open and a solo third at the PGA. He is now fourth in the World Golf Rankings. Unlike some Swedes, Stenson doesn’t hide his delight at his recent play, nor his disgust when he fails to achieve his lofty goals.

“But one thing about golf and life,” he says, “you always have to move on.”

Moving on will now mean carrying the weight of high expectations into next year.

Golf is a funny game.