bodyType

customContents

entityId

entityUuid

articlePageQuery

filter

article

articleBaseAdvertisingInfoArticle

articleListArticle

articleSeoArticle

hooksArticleAcknowledgementGateOverlayArticle

hooksTrackPageViewArticle

hooksContentInterestArticle

articleLinkingDataContent

hooksAmpRedirectArticle

articleSchemaContent

liveArticle

advertZone

sentiment

contentLock

topics

types

sections

paywallTypes

createdDate

publishedDate

urlAlias

moreOnThisArticles

sponsorType

commentCount

authorLocations

authors

corrections

displaySlideShow

multimediaEmbed

printHeadline

seriesContainer

articleSpeeches

socialHeadline

headline

images

flag

firstTopic

glossary

flattenTypeIds

image

relatedLinks

relatedNewsletters

__typename

sponsor

pdfFiles

seriesReverseOrder

series

disableOffPlatformContent

published

updatedDate

summary

subHeadline

body

keywords

readingTime

customTimezone

liveContents

Agence France-Presse

At the age of 40, Henrik Stenson is hoping his long-awaited first major victory at the British Open on Sunday proves to be just the beginning.
Stenson had long been considered one of the best players on tour never to have won a major but he put that right in the most spectacular fashion at Royal Troon on Scotland’s west coast.
His major championship record-equalling low round of 63, featuring 10 birdies, on Sunday saw him beat American Phil Mickelson by three strokes with an overall score of 20 under par, the lowest ever total at The Open.
“We’re only just getting started, aren’t we? You never know once you open the floodgates what might happen,” Stenson said later as he spoke to the media alongside the famous Claret Jug.

The Swede said he had a feeling this would be his turn to win a major after seven previous top-four finishes, including as the runner-up to Mickelson in the British Open at Muirfield in 2013.
Forty “is the new 30”, he said, and there was certainly something about the week for the older guard, with Mickelson, at 46, coming so close to being the oldest Open winner in nearly 150 years.
Meanwhile, the 49-year-old American Steve Stricker finished in fourth.
In contrast, the so-called ‘Big Four’ of Dustin Johnson, 32, and twenty-somethings Jason Day, Jordan Spieth and Rory McIlroy never really challenged in Troon, even if the latter ended up in a tie for fifth.
Asked what he put that down to, Stenson replied: “I think the experience and the way links golf plays.”

He also recalled Tom Watson’s near miss at the age of 59 down the Ayrshire coast at Turnberry in 2009.
“So even a few guys that are a little bit older than I am have had success at the majors and at The Open Championship.
“But experience definitely plays a big part of it. Yeah, it was quite an old leaderboard for a change, I guess.”
It wasn’t just Stenson’s long overdue first major victory, it was a first ever for a Swedish men’s player after some painful failures in past years.
Jesper Parnevik was the last top player to come out of the Scandinavian country prior to Stenson but his bogey at the last at Turnberry on the final day in 1994 cost him glory and he blew the lead on the Sunday at Troon three years later.

“Very impressive and congrats @henrikstenson, Sweden doesn’t have to wait no more!!,” Parnevik tweeted on Sunday.
“I feel very privileged to be the one to hold this trophy,” Stenson added.
“There’s been many great players from my country who have tried in past years and decades and there’s been a couple of really close calls. Jesper in particular twice.
“He sent me a message, ‘Go out and finish what I didn’t manage to finish,’ and I’m really proud to have done that, and it’s going to be massive for golf in Sweden with this win.”

Stenson acknowledged that it will take some time for his victory to sink in, not least because of the manner of it. But he cannot relax for long.
The final major of the season, the US PGA Championship at Baltusrol in New Jersey, begins earlier than usual this year, starting on July 28.
That is because of the Olympics in Rio in August. And unlike the ‘Big Four’ and numerous other leading golfers who withdrew citing concerns about the Zika virus, Stenson will be at the Games.
“I’m just happy to be part of it. It’s going to be quite an experience, I think,” he said last week.
“I hope I can perform well, and hopefully get one of the medals, and hopefully the best one to bring home. I think it would be pretty cool to have that next to some of the other nice trophies I’ve managed to win.”


Hong Kong Open golf: Isaac Lam, Leon D’Souza clinch local qualifier spots

Hong Kong Open: Bubba Watson, Patrick Reed top strong field also aiming for spots at majors

Winner of Hong Kong Open to get place at 2 majors - Masters and Open Championship

Golf, what’s the point of it all? Major winner Scheffler says, ahead of Open quest

The Open Championship

Life begins at 40 for Stenson as he hopes Open win is just the beginning

Sweden's Henrik Stenson shows off the Claret Jug. AFP

Winner, Sweden's Henrik Stenson (L) and his caddie Garath Lord react as Stenson makes his birdie putt on the 18th green during his final round, shooting 63 in his final round to win the Championship by three shots, on day four of the 2016 British Open Golf Championship at Royal Troon in Scotland on July 17, 2016. Henrik Stenson won the British Open at Royal Troon on Sunday, pipping Phil Mickelson by producing a major championship record-equalling round of 63 on the final day. The Swede -- who played superbly to finally win his first major at the age of 40 -- led by one overnight and kept his nerve, shooting an eight-under 63 to finish on 20 under par, three shots clear. / AFP PHOTO / ANDY BUCHANAN / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE

Winner, Sweden's Henrik Stenson reacts after making his birdie putt on the 18th green during his final round 63 to win the Championship, on day four of the 2016 British Open Golf Championship at Royal Troon in Scotland on July 17, 2016. Henrik Stenson won the British Open at Royal Troon on Sunday, pipping Phil Mickelson by producing a major championship record-equalling round of 63 on the final day. / AFP PHOTO / GLYN KIRK / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE

Sweden's Henrik Stenson poses for pictures in front of the clubhouse as he kisses the Claret Jug, the trophy for the Champion golfer of the year after winning the 2016 British Open Golf Championship at Royal Troon in Scotland on July 17, 2016. Henrik Stenson won the British Open at Royal Troon on Sunday, pipping Phil Mickelson by producing a major championship record-equalling round of 63 on the final day. The Swede -- who played superbly to finally win his first major at the age of 40 -- led by one overnight and kept his nerve, shooting an eight-under 63 to finish on 20 under par, three shots clear. / AFP PHOTO / Ben STANSALL / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE

A Swedish flag is waved in the crowd Sweden's Henrik Stenson wins the Championship by three shots, on day four of the 2016 British Open Golf Championship at Royal Troon in Scotland on July 17, 2016. Henrik Stenson won the British Open at Royal Troon on Sunday, pipping Phil Mickelson by producing a major championship record-equalling round of 63 on the final day. The Swede -- who played superbly to finally win his first major at the age of 40 -- led by one overnight and kept his nerve, shooting an eight-under 63 to finish on 20 under par, three shots clear. / AFP PHOTO / ANDY BUCHANAN / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE

Stunning Stenson: ‘The Iceman’ captures British Open

Sweden's Henrik Stenson kisses the Claret Jug after winning the British Open at Royal Troon in Scotland. Photo: Reuters

Henrik Stenson of Sweden celebrates as he wins the British Open Golf Championships, after putting out on the 18th green at the Royal Troon Golf Club, in Troon, Scotland, Sunday July 17, 2016. (AP Photo/Peter Morrison)

epa05429590 Henrik Stenson of Sweden celebrates scoring a birdie on the final day of the British Open Golf Championship at Royal Troon, Scotland, Britain, 17 July 2016. EPA/GERRY PENNY

Golf - British Open - Phil Mickelson of the U.S. reacts after a missed eagle putt on the 16th green during the final round - Royal Troon, Scotland, Britain - 17/07/2016. REUTERS/Russell Cheyne

Sport

Golf

Swede has come close without joy in the majors before


Life begins at 40 for Stenson as he hopes Open win is just the beginning

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}Swede has come close without joy in the majors before

Swede has come close without joy in the majors before