Henrik Stenson Looking Forward to Major Summer

Post by Golf Writer Kieran Clark at Castle Stuart

World number six Henrik Stenson arrives at Castle Stuart for the Aberdeen Asset Management Scottish Open fresh off his first victory in two years at the BMW International Open in Germany. That was a long overdue triumph for the three-time Ryder Cup player, who has been one of the game’s most consistent ball strikers over the past five years, and a welcome reminder that he remains more than capable of finally reeling off that elusive major championship.

The 40-year-old Swede is looking forward to a hectic few weeks, as a packed schedule is destined to test the physical and mental stamina of the game’s best. With the Open Championship, the PGA Championship, and the Olympic Games coming up within the next month, Stenson is hoping that this week’s showpiece in the Highlands will carry him towards a profitable July and August.

Having experienced his first taste of Royal Troon on Tuesday, which he described as being “green but in good shape,” the ten-time European Tour winner is seeking a repeat of his last visit to the Moray Firth, when a strong performance at Castle Stuart preluded a runner-up finish to Phil Mickelson at Muirfield, which remains his best result in one of the game’s four most important championships.

“I've tried both (playing and skipping the Scottish Open), and there's a reason why I'm back here. I've played in '13 and did really well in The Open. I did well at this tournament, too. I didn't play in the next two years and I didn't do any well at The Open Championship. So I think for myself, it's definitely better to be competitive the week before a major when possible.”

The first player to win both the lucrative FedEx Cup and Race to Dubai in the same year added: “In terms of links golf, it always takes a few rounds, a few days to get used to the difference in playing links compared to target golf like we play most other weeks.”

It has proven to be a successful formula in recent years, with four of the last five players who secured the Claret Jug having earlier participated in the Scottish Open. Darren Clarke, Ernie Els and the aforementioned Mickelson all competed at Castle Stuart ahead of their most recent major triumphs, while Rory McIlroy played at Royal Aberdeen before winning the Open at Hoylake.

Despite the strong field this year, among the most eye-catching on the tour, there are some notable absentees, not least Rickie Fowler, who has unusually passed up on the opportunity to defend the title he brilliantly claimed at Gullane 12 months ago. That would have come as a particular shock to tournament organisers, but this summer’s congested schedule has led to a number of adjustments from leading players.

With golf’s long awaited (and beleaguered) return to the Olympic Games having squeezed the last two majors of the year into a fortnight’s window, the event’s prestige has been threatened by a number of high-profile non-attendees, including world number one Jason Day and McIlroy, but Stenson has confirmed his participation at Rio and is excited about the opportunity.

“I've been looking forward to playing in Rio for quite some time. There's different aspects to it; there's being part of the Olympic movement and seeing an Olympic Games from kind of the inside. I think that's going to be an experience of a lifetime for a sporting fan.

“And then of course if I can go there, compete and compete well, if I make myself and my country happy, that would be something very special. I have a few nice trophies at home and it would be nice to hang an Olympic medal next to them. I think that would look kind of cool.”

The Zika virus has plagued and gravely undermined the expected anticipation leading up to the Games, with many younger players in their 20s looking to start or continue to expand their families having withdrawn from selection due to health concerns. However, as a father of three with no desire to have another child, Stenson is unperturbed by the potential threat, joking “I'm not afraid of mosquitos. I'm more afraid of bears.” He didn’t confirm whether or not he had seen The Revenant.

Despite those understandable nightmares and the events in Brazil, for now, the Swede’s ambitions are solely fixated on this coming fortnight in Scotland, and he is here with a determination to win. “I showed a couple of years back that it’s certainly possible to go 1, 1. Yeah, I wouldn’t mind a repeat of that.”

It would also finally secure that elusive major championship, becoming the first man from Sweden to do so, which his ability and success has unquestionably merited. Champion Golfer of the Year and Olympic gold medal winner would have a rather nice ring to it. Something that even all of those FedEx millions couldn’t buy.