TOUR Insider: Tough TPC Southwind suits Stenson
By Helen Ross, PGATOUR.COM Chief of Correspondents
MEMPHIS, Tenn. -- Henrik Stenson expected to get some attention.
After all, he hadn't played golf in Europe since before last year's Ryder Cup. So he understood there would be interviews to do and acquaintances to renew. He had several sponsor commitments, as well.
Then Stenson went out and beat the strongest field in golf at THE PLAYERS Championship four weeks ago.
"And I think everything else tripled," the fresh-faced Swede said with a smile.
Stenson was so busy that he barely had time to practice for the BMW Championship or the European Open. In retrospect, he said that just about the only time he had to himself was the hour he spent getting a treatment from his physiotherapist.
Somewhat predictably then, Stenson missed the cut in both events. He had gone to England fresh off a family vacation in the Bahamas, too, and he joked Tuesday about jet lag adding to his roster of excuses -- saying "I can keep making that list long."
Stenson means business this week, though, as he plays in the St. Jude Classic presented by FedEx for the first time courtesy of a sponsor's exemption. He's been at home in Orlando practicing since last week, and he arrived in Memphis on Monday evening, primed for action.
| 74 | Stenton's greens in regulation percentage from 175-200 yards |
| 1 | Stenton's rank on TOUR for greens in regulation percentage from 175-200 yards |
"It's always interesting to go to new places and see new golf courses and meet new people," said the well-traveled Stenson, who also has a home in Dubai and will play just three more events in the U.S. this year. "I'm excited to be here."
A win this week at TPC Southwind would be a bonus. Regardless of what happens come Sunday, though, Stenson wants to be sure to be sharp and gain some momentum for next week's U.S. Open at Bethpage Black.
"The better I play the more focus that comes into the bigger events," Stenson explained. "I have definitely played better in the (majors) where I have played another event the week before."
Stenson, who is ranked No. 6 in the world, wants to be in what he calls alternately "playing mode" or "scoring mode" when he goes to New York next week. If he doesn't play the week before a major, he finds it takes longer to turn that switch on mentally.
Don't be surprised to see Stenson on the leaderboard this week at TPC Southwind, either. He tied for third at the Shell Houston Open prior to the Masters earlier this year -- although the tie for 38th that followed at Augusta National wasn't quite what he had hoped.
"I am convinced that I will do well around Augusta," Stenson said firmly, adding he has devised a "master plan" for the Masters. "I feel like I have improved every year to where I can handle the golf course and sort of go from strength to strength."
Stenson did contend in the final two majors last year -- tying for third at the British Open and fourth at the PGA Championship -- before winning THE PLAYERS last month. He had two previous top-10s in four starts at TPC Sawgrass, so it wasn't exactly a surprise.
A bogey-free 66 in the final round on Pete Dye's signature creation that was relinquishing low scores grudgingly showed Stenson had major game. He only missed two fairways on the weekend and made up a five-stroke deficit -- overtaking, among others, Tiger Woods -- to win for the second time on the PGA TOUR and seventh time worldwide.
"It was a great win," Stenson said. "It was the biggest win of my career so far and hopefully I can lift my game one more notch to the next level which will be to win a major, of course.
"It was just a receipt for me that if I can go out and play as good as I did on Sunday and handle myself as well I can't see why I wouldn't be able to win a major. ... So it is going to take a lot of patience and hard work to try to get there."
Stenson has wanted to be a pro since a family friend suggested take up the game at the age of 8. He came through the ranks in Sweden and even got what he calls the "best of both worlds" when he practiced with the men's team at South Carolina while his future wife, Emma, was playing on the distaff side for the Gamecocks.
Over the last five years, the 33-year-old Stenson has established himself as someone who plays the tough venues well. He has an easy smile and a dry wit that can be disarming, too, and he doesn't mind poking fun at himself -- a penchant that came in handy earlier this year after he stripped to his skivvies to play a shot from the water at Doral that made him one of the most Googled golfers in the world.
Stenson is prepared for this week, and he's looking for the challenge of the next. His first U.S. Open was at Winged Foot where "I could have made a nice salad from all the edges of the fairway out there," Stenson said with a smile. Bethpage will be equally challenging.
"It's the ultimate test that we get put through," Stenson said. "You just have to have your mind and your game in the right place. After a couple of years you kind of realize the things you have to improve and some things that are good enough to perform."
And for Stenson, this week will be a litmus test.
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