Stenson has been close, with seven top-five finishes, including being runner-up to Phil Mickelson at The Open in 2013. “Phil was on a different planet on the back-nine at Muirfield. I did everything right and gave it my best shot, but no one was catching him on that run-in.” Henrik and Emma had shared a house in nearby Archerfield with Sir Nick Faldo that week, and I’d been very briefly introduced to them while meeting the Faldos. Sir Nick then told me to get my money on Henrik as “he is on fire right now”. When I shared this, Henrik drolly responded “I hope you bet for a place …”
Stenson has enjoyed top-five finishes in all the majors except for the Masters Tournament. Does Augusta not suit his eye?
“No, actually Augusta is one of my favourite courses, along with the Old Course [at St Andrews] and TPC Sawgrass. I don’t think I’ve ever given myself a real chance to win there. Everything in your game has to be just 100 per cent to succeed there and while I’ve been close, a mixture of interruptions to preparations, being less than 100 per cent health-wise, and just lacking consistency has hurt my chances,” he says. “Last year [in 2014], I felt everything come together on the Sunday and I shot a 68, that could have been much lower.”
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