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Top Tours

Eduardo Molinari named as vice captain for 2023 Ryder Cup

Henrik Stenson has named Italian Edoardo Molinari as his second Vice Captain for the 2023 Ryder Cup which will be played at Marco Simone Golf and Country Club in Rome, Italy from September 25 – October 1, 2023.

Molinari, alongside his brother Francesco, was part of the victorious European Team in the 2010 Ryder Cup at The Celtic Manor Resort in Wales. He has also won three times on the DP World Tour, previously known as the European Tour, and has made 356 Tour appearances to date.

The 41-year-old is Stenson’s second Vice Captaincy appointment, following the announcement earlier this month of Dane Thomas Bjørn, the successful 2018 European Captain.

Molinari will undoubtedly be a popular addition to Team Europe amongst the home support when Italy hosts the biennial contest for the first time next year.  

“It’s fantastic to be Ryder Cup vice-captain”

He said: “It is fantastic. I played the Ryder Cup in 2010 and to be able to be a Vice Captain in this one is a dream come true. It was a very unexpected call from Henrik. We had chatted a few times about stats and what I could do to help the team, but I never expected this.

“Knowing Henrik, he will leave no stone unturned. He will do everything he can to win the Ryder Cup back. It will be a lot of fun for all the guys playing for him too. He has always been a very friendly guy, and is always smiling, so I think it will be a fantastic atmosphere in the team room.

“The Italian fans will be loud and passionate at Marco Simone. For the players, it will be a lot of fun to play in front of such supportive crowds. Rome is a fantastic city, one of my favourites in the world. It is going to be a great week overall and I am very happy that the players will get to experience Rome.”

Stenson said: “I’m delighted to welcome Edoardo to the 2023 European Ryder Cup team as a Vice Captain. I’ve known him for a long time and he is obviously a Ryder Cup player himself. He is really into stats and he works with a few of the players who will potentially be on my team.

“I asked him if he would do me the honour of joining the team and he was delighted to. I’m very happy to have him on board and I’m very much looking forward to his input and to lean on his experience. With him being Italian, it is going to be an extra special week for him.

“I envisage Thomas and Edoardo as the working group that I will lean on for the foreseeable future. There will be a lot of healthy discussion and input between us. I’m delighted to have both of them as part of Team Europe.”

The Molinaris have a successful Ryder Cup history

Molinari and his brother Francesco followed compatriot Costantino Rocca into Ryder Cup folklore when they represented Europe in the Ryder Cup in 2010 at The Celtic Manor Resort in Wales.

The Molinaris became the first brothers to compete against the United States since Bernard and Geoffrey Hunt played in the 1963 Great Britain & Ireland team, when they played in the 2010 contest at The Celtic Manor Resort in Wales. They halved their fourball match against Stewart Cink and Matt Kuchar, while Edoardo contributed another crucial half point in his singles match against Rickie Fowler as Europe triumphed 14½-13½.

In addition to his three victories on the DP World Tour, Molinari was also the Challenge Tour Number One in 2009 and was, for a number of years, a respected member of the DP World Tour’s Tournament Committee.

Before turning professional Molinari won the 2005 US Amateur Championship and alongside Francesco, claimed the World Cup of Golf for Italy in 2009 at Mission Hills in China.

(Text: EUROPEAN TOUR GROUP COMMUNICATIONS)

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Panorama

Henrik Stenson names first vice-captain for 2023 Ryder Cup

The team around Ryder Cup captain Henrik Stenson is starting to grow. Thomas Bjørn has been named first vice-captain for the match between Europe and the United States. The 51-year-old Dane already brings a lot of Ryder Cup experience with him. He has already taken part in the event eight times: three times as a player, four times as vice-captain and once as the winning captain at the 2018 Ryder Cup in Paris. More than 20 years ago, in 1997, Thomas Bjørn’s Ryder Cup career began when he became the first Dane ever to be part of the European team led by Seve Ballesteros.

Stenson trusts Thomas Bjørn “implicitly”

The two Scandinavians Henrik Stenson and Thomas Bjørn have known each other for many years. For Stenson, that’s one point that significantly influenced his decision to go with Bjørn: “I trust him implicitly and I know any advice he will give me will be honest and direct. He will not simply tell me what he thinks I want to hear and that will be important, so I’m delighted to have him as my first Vice Captain for Rome.”

In addition, Stenson said he trusts Bjørn’s years of experience already with the Ryder Cup. Considering the fact that the Ryder Cup will not take place for over a year, Stenson is looking forward to the long preparation period: “I will be depending on him a lot and I’m really looking forward to those chats.”

Bjørn is looking forward to the Ryder Cup 2023

For Thomas Bjørn, Henrik Stenson’s request seemed to have come as a surprise: “I probably thought that after 2018 that was it for me, but Henrik called me to talk about Captaincy in general and that led into him asking me if I wanted to do another stint as Vice Captain, which I agreed to. I’m excited to work with him.” Thomas Bjørn intends to fulfill his role as vice captain as best he can: “I will help him prepare in the best possible way and as we get closer to the match, to be an additional support to the players.”

The Dane has high hopes for captain Henrik Stenson, both golf-wise and personally. He describes Stenson as a “hard-working golfer” who will make a fantastic captain. For Bjørn, Stenson is “somebody who is true to himself, and his team will represent that. He has a great sense of humour that the players will take to, and he is very well liked across the whole Tour.”

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Highlights Tours

Ryder Cup 2023: Players and fans are excited for “The Iceman”

It was announced on Tuesday that Henrik Stenson will lead his fellow Europeans into the 2023 Ryder Cup as captain. The Swede will send Europe’s best golfers into the race against the Americans led by Zach Johnson at the Marco Simone Golf Club in Italy. On the web, many fans and (former) players are reacting delightedly to this news, but others also see the decision critically.

Ryder Cup 2023: Excitement for the “Iceman”

Sir Nick Faldo, who captained Team Europe at the 2008 Ryder Cup, describes Henrik Stenson as a “great guy”, but points out that he has a “really tough job” ahead of him. “Half the team will probably be the old school, the backbone with maybe six unknown-ish rookies.” Faldo wishes him and the team the best of luck against the seemingly overpowering Americans.

Another former team captain, Thomas Bjørn, also congratulates the 45-year-old on his nomination. “Time to get behind “The Iceman”,” the 2018 captain encourages the new skipper.

Paul Lawrie, 1999 Open champion and winner part of the victorious 2012 team at Medinah, was also considered a candidate for the captaincy. The Scot sends his congratulations to Henrik Stenson and the team.

Colin Montgomerie can look back on many years of Ryder Cup experience and also congratulates.

Other players also react to the announcement of their new captain. Ross Fisher, 2010 Ryder Cup winner, writes: “I know you will be a great captain for the lucky 12 boys in Rome.”

Jon Rahm and Justin Rose also react to the announcement on Twitter.

Ian Poulter congratulated with this funny video:

Fans’ reactions about Henrik Stenson

For many fans the choice of captain is the right one, Henrik Stenson has a “very likeable and charismatic character,” this tweet says, but: “The Americans will be hard to stop in Rome with the talent at their disposal.”

Other fans and also journalists are looking forward to the prankster Stenson in particular. “As captain You are allowed to prank players extra,” this fan says excitedly.

Rex Hoggard says “the Swede’s press conferences will be can’t-miss.”

But there are also dissenting voices. This fan sees Henrik Stenson as “not a leader of men” and congratulates the Americans prematurely on their victory.

This is contrasted by other opinions.

Whether Henrik Stenson was the “right” choice will only become clear next year when the matches are played at the Marco Simone Golf Club. In any case, Team USA is facing “a worthy opponent”.

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Uncategorized

Ryder Cup 2023: Henrik Stenson European Captain in Rome

Henrik Stenson has been named as the European Captain for the 2023 Ryder Cup at Marco Simone Golf and Country Club in Rome, Italy from September 25 – October 1, 2023.
 
The 2016 Open Champion has enjoyed an impressive Ryder Cup career, helping Europe to victory in three of five of his appearances as a player before going on to bring his experience to the role of Vice Captain in the 2020 edition of the biennial contest.
 
The 45 year old becomes the first Swede to be named European Captain and will be aiming to emulate the memorable European performance in the last home match at Le Golf National in Paris, France in 2018, and reclaim the Ryder Cup following victory for the United States at Whistling Straits, Wisconsin, last September.  

“Henrik has all the qualities to be a great Ryder Cup captain.”

As a player, Stenson made his Ryder Cup debut for Europe at The K Club, in Ireland, in 2006, when he secured the winning point in a dominant 18½ – 9½ victory. He was also a member of the victorious teams in 2014 at Gleneagles, Scotland, and 2018 at Le Golf National, in France, as well as being part of the European Teams in both 2008 and 2016.
 
The Swede has collected 17 titles worldwide and famously became Sweden’s first male Major winner when he triumphed in The 145th Open at Royal Troon. Stenson lifted the Claret Jug in 2016 after he recorded a final round 63 in a thrilling battle with Phil Mickelson, which drew comparisons with the legendary ‘Duel in the Sun’ between Tom Watson and Jack Nicklaus at nearby Turnberry in 1977.
 
Stenson was selected as Europe’s 2023 Ryder Cup Captain by a five-man selection panel comprising the three most recent European Ryder Cup Captains – Pádraig Harrington, Thomas Bjørn and Darren Clarke – as well as the Chief Executive of the European Tour group, Keith Pelley, and DP World Tour Tournament Committee Chairman David Howell.

Henrik Stenson: “Dreams do sometimes come true”.

Stenson said: I am absolutely thrilled and delighted to be the European Ryder Cup Captain – it is a huge honour and I was humbled to get the call confirming the news. I would like to thank the selection panel for believing in me and will say to them, and every European golf fan, that I will do everything in my power and leave no stone unturned in the quest to get the Ryder Cup back in European hands.
 
“The Ryder Cup is golf, and sport, at its very best. I got goosebumps every time I pulled on a European shirt as a player and that will be magnified in the role of Captain. While it is great for me personally, it is also great for my country and all the players from Sweden who have played for Europe with such distinction since Joakim Haeggman became the first in 1993.
 
“When I started out as a professional golfer, it was beyond my wildest dreams that, one day, I would follow in the footsteps of legends of the game such as Seve and be the European Ryder Cup Captain. But today proves that, sometimes, dreams do come true.”

Guy Kinnings, the European Ryder Cup Director, said: “Henrik has all the qualities to be a great Captain. He has an incredibly impressive golfing CV as a Major Champion, two-time European Number One and FedEx Cup winner, and in the Ryder Cup he played five times and played with distinction, including holing the winning putt in 2006 at The K Club.

“So he comes with all the credibility of what he has achieved, and as we all know a dry a sense of humour and a fantastic warm personality, but he is also a ferocious competitor. He is hugely respected by the players and admired by everyone involved with the game and the Ryder Cup.”

Stenson History at the Ryder Cup

The two-time European Number One has amassed 11 points for Europe from his 19 matches, including a 100% record from his three matches during his last outing at Le Golf National in 2018. He partnered Justin Rose to foursomes victories over Rickie Fowler and Dustin Johnson on the Friday and Johnson and Brooks Koepka on the Saturday, before rounding off his perfect week with a 5&4 singles victory over Bubba Watson.

Stenson made his Ryder Cup debut in 2006, earning half a point alongside David Howell in the foursomes against Stewart Cink and David Toms on the Friday, before holing the winning putt which ensured that Europe won the Ryder Cup for a third consecutive time when he beat Vaughn Taylor 4&3 in the Sunday singles.
 
He played again in 2008 at Valhalla, contributing 1½ points courtesy of a victory alongside Oliver Wilson in the Saturday foursomes against Phil Mickelson and Anthony Kim, and halving his fourballs match in the afternoon with partner Robert Karlsson against Mickelson and Hunter Mahan.
 
Stenson then formed a formidable partnership with fellow Major winner Justin Rose at Gleneagles in 2014. The pair were victorious in their three matches in Scotland, including a comprehensive 5&4 win over Bubba Watson and Webb Simpson in the opening fourballs matches on the Friday. They also defeated Zach Johnson and Mahan 2&1 in the afternoon foursomes and Matt Kuchar and Bubba Watson 3&2 in the Saturday fourballs.

The partnership yielded another point at Hazeltine National in 2016 courtesy of a 5&4 defeat of Patrick Reed and Jordan Spieth in the Friday afternoon fourballs, while Stenson also won his singles match against Spieth 3&2.

Stenson´s record as an athlete


 Stenson’s impressive CV also features an Olympic Silver Medal which he won at the 2016 Games in Rio, the 2008 World Cup of Golf alongside Robert Karlsson, the 2007 WGC Accenture World Match Play Championship and the 2009 PLAYERS Championship.
 
In 2013 he won the PGA TOUR’s Fed Ex Cup and the European Tour’s Race to Dubai in the same year after winning the season ending DP World Tour Championship, a title which he defended in 2014. He won the Race to Dubai again in 2016 after claiming the Claret Jug at Royal Troon following the iconic battle down the stretch with Mickelson.
  
His 12-man European Team will face the United States team which will be led by Zach Johnson, the 2007 Masters Champion and 2015 Open Champion.

(Text: Ryder Cup Europe Communications)

Categories
Panorama

PGA Tour: Year-end performance review

The stars of the PGA Tour around Rory McIlroy are asked performance reviews – and still have plenty of room for improvement for the upcoming year.

As the year draws to a close, it’s time for the annual performance reviews. This is also the case on the PGA Tour and DP World Tour, where the stars like Rory McIlroy, Collin Morikawa and Co. are called into office for the year-end performance reviews.

PGA Tour: year-end performance reviews

Actor John C. McGinley, known as Dr. Perry Cox from the hospital series “Scrubs”, sits in front of them and sums up the performance of the professionals in the past year with many allusions. Rory McIlroy, for example, looks back on two wins in 2021 and considers himself his harshest critic, “but that could all change.”

Jordan Spieth has to face the interview without his caddie Michael and is “very nervous” about it, and Justin Thomas has to answer for his beer action at the Ryder Cup. Justin Rose, Tyrrell Hatton, whose height and emotional nature are always a topic, Henrik Stenson, Scottie Scheffler and Collin Morikawa also have to make an appearance. The latter is “by any estimate, perfect” but that’s where the danger lies, the interviewer said.

McGinley, who plays management consultant Bob Slydell in the film “Office Space,” analyzes the stars and their performances. In the process, it also becomes clear that many stars have no plan B up their sleeves in case their golfing career should come to an end overnight. Finally, the interviewer himself is taken for a ride.

Watch the funny sketch here:

Categories
European Tour

HENRIK STENSON NAMED AS EUROPEAN VICE CAPTAIN FOR THE 2020 RYDER CUP

European Captain Pádraig Harrington has announced that Henrik Stenson will be the fifth and final Vice Captain for Team Europe in the 2020 Ryder Cup, which gets underway at Whistling Straits next Friday.
 
The 2016 Open Champion will bring a wealth of knowledge and experience to Harrington’s backroom team in Wisconsin having played in five of the biennial contests against the United States (2006, 2008, 2014, 2016 and 2018); being on the winning side on three of those five occasions.
 
During that time, the two-time European Tour Number One amassed 11 points for Europe from 19 matches, including a 100% record of three wins out of three during his last outing at Le Golf National in 2018 where he rounded out his perfect week with a 5&4 singles victory over Bubba Watson. He also secured the winning point for Europe on his debut at The K Club, in Ireland, in 2006 where he beat Vaughn Taylor 4&3.
 
It will be Stenson’s first stint as Vice Captain and the 45 year old Swede will join his compatriot Robert Karlsson, Englishman Luke Donald, Germany’s Martin Kaymer and Graeme McDowell of Northern Ireland in the role. Between them the quintet boasts the experience of 19 Ryder Cups for Europe and 40 points scored.
 

Stenson comments on his new position


Stenson said: “It’s a great honour to get the call and to be involved with Team Europe. I’ve been part of five Ryder Cup teams in the past and to be given the opportunity as a Vice Captain to help Europe’s quest to retain the Ryder Cup is exciting.
 
“Pádraig called me on Monday morning and it was not a long conversation. I accepted straight away and I assured him that myself, along with the other Vice Captains, are there to help and assist him and the team in any way we can.
 
“We have a very strong team. It’s a mix of huge experience along with three guys who will take on their first Ryder Cup – and that’s a great combination. We have strength in depth so I’m looking forward to getting out there and seeing the boys perform.
 
“It’s no secret that winning on away soil is always a little bit harder, but the boys are ready for that challenge. It’s all going to come down to how well we play during the week but I have every faith in our team.”
 
Pádraig Harrington, European Ryder Cup Captain, said: “I am delighted to add Henrik Stenson to our backroom team as a Vice Captain. Following on from Sunday when the 12 players were confirmed, we now have Team Europe complete and I could not be happier.
 
“Henrik will bring so much to the week in all aspects both on and off the course. His playing record speaks for itself and he has the full respect and confidence of all the players. He knows what it takes to win a Ryder Cup and that experience and knowledge will be crucial for us.
 
“Everyone is aware that the Ryder Cup can be a tense week at times too so Henrik’s renowned wit and sense of fun will benefit our team room immensely. It will also be helpful to have the cool head of the ‘Ice Man’ around should any stressful situation emerge.”
 

It is almost Ryder Cup time

The 43rd Ryder Cup will be played at Whistling Straits in Wisconsin from September 24-26 where Europe will aim to retain the trophy they won 17 ½ – 10 ½ at Le Golf National in France in 2018.

Press Release from the European Tour Communications

Categories
Ladies Tours

Henrik Stenson Congratulates Annika Sörenstam On Her Victory

Stenson gives a heart warming congratulations to his fellow Swedish golfer, Annika Sörenstam. Sörenstam shot a 4-under-par 68 to go wire-to-wire and coast to an 8-shot victory at the third U.S. Senior Women’s Open. “Everything felt so good.. and today I really felt like I played very, very well. To come in here on Sunday knowing what I had to do and I did it, obviously I’m very happy” said Sörenstam when interviewed after receiving the championship trophy for the Senior Women’s Championship 2021 which was played at Brooklawn Country Club.

Categories
European Tour

Annika Sörenstam to tee it up at mixed event in Sweden

Annika Sörenstam has announced she will tee it up on home soil for the first time in 13 years alongside fellow tournament host Henrik Stenson at the Scandinavian Mixed Hosted by Henrik and Annika at Vallda Golf & Country Club in Gothenburg from June 10-13, 2021.
 
During her 16-year Hall of Fame career, Sörenstam amassed 89 victories worldwide, including ten Major Championships before retiring in 2008 to start a family. The 50-year-old was initially announced as a non-playing host alongside Stenson for the inaugural edition of the event, scheduled to take place at Bro Hof Slott Golf Club in Stockholm in 2020, however it was cancelled due to the coronavirus pandemic.

“I’m excited to tee it up at the Scandinavian Mixed and to be back playing competitively in my home country of Sweden for the first time in 13 years,” said Sörenstam.
 
After 13 years away from professional golf, Sörenstam made the cut in February this year at her first competitive outing at the Gainbridge LPGA at Lake Nona Golf and Country Club in Florida and will now return to action in Sweden this June following her last appearance on home soil at the 2008 Scandinavian TPC in Stockholm.
 
The eight-time Solheim Cup player’s decision to join the field of 78 men and 78 women brings a new level of excitement to the innovative mixed tournament co-sanctioned by the European Tour and Ladies European Tour.
 
With a prize fund of €1,000,000 for the entire field and Official World Ranking points on offer for both Tours, plus Race to Dubai and Ryder Cup points for European Tour members, and Race to Costa del Sol and Solheim Cup points for the Ladies European Tour.

“It’s going to be a great week and I’m sure a real thrill for all of the players in the field to have someone of Annika’s stature playing in the tournament”, Henrik Stenson added. “I can’t wait to see the dynamics of having both men and women going head-to-head for the same trophy and putting it all on the line come Sunday afternoon.”

Text: Press Release European Tour

Categories
Professionals

European Tour: Henrik Stenson Talks Difficult Conditions at Omega Dubai Desert Classic

European Tour professional Henrik Stenson speaks to the media following an opening round of even par at the 2020 Omega Dubai Desert Classic and about late December victor in terms of confidence building for the rest of the season.

European Tour: Henrick Stenson speaks to the media following opening round of Omega Dubai Desert Classic

Q. Level par 72. Just give us your verdict on that one?
HENRIK STENSON: I think overall, it’s certainly not a bad score out there. It’s one of the tougher mornings in later years we’ve had to play here at Emirates Golf Club. It’s blowing pretty hard, and the course setup is certainly tougher this year. I think Bryson put everyone off last year with 24-under or something. They won’t have that one more time.

So thick rough, firm fairways, breezy conditions. As you know, a lot of doglegs on this golf course and you’re coming in sideways from the fairway. A lot of good shots ended up in the rough and I think a lot of players will play from the rough today.

Q. How important is the right attitude when the golf course is this difficult and conditions are that testing?
HENRIK STENSON: Yeah, you’ve got to dig deep, no question. Other than a little bit of a mishap here on the third-last hole, I was staying patient. I was doing my things, and grinding it out when I needed to and made a couple of good birdies in between. I just kept on fighting. Pleased with the day’s performance overall.

Q. Your first win in a little while, just before Christmas in December. How valuable in terms of belief and confidence was that victory?
HENRIK STENSON: That was huge. I didn’t really have any great chances or any chances at all to win tournaments last year. To be in the mix and when you’re up against players like Jon and Tiger and Justin Thomas and Gary Woodland, it’s pretty hard to win any tournament, but when you have four or five of those guys right around you, it’s never easy. So I was super happy with that and it was a great way to finish the season and go on a break, and yeah, we still need to pick up some pace. We couldn’t quite start up the year where we left it last year, but still early doors. I’ve got patience; you know that.

January 23, 2020

Dubai, UAE

FastScripts Transcript by ASAP Sports

Categories
Professionals

European Tour: Henrik Stenson Talks Omega Dubai Desert Classic and Offseason Preparations

European Tour and Major winner Henrik Stenson speaks to the media prior to the start of round one of the Omega Dubai Desert Classic in his hometown of Dubai. Stenson touches on his offseason preparations for the year as well as the longevity of his career, Ryder Cup, and the 2020 Olympic games.

European Tour: Henrik Stenson speaks with the media prior to the Omega Dubai Desert Classic

CLARE BODEL: Thank you for joining us, Henrik, nice and early. So here we are at the OMEGA Dubai Desert Classic, a place where you won in 2007, you’ve had a bunch of Top 10s. What do you like about this place? What fits your game?

HENRIK STENSON: I have made Dubai my home as you all know for ten years, and great to be back and be in a very familiar environment. Know a lot of people. Obviously I know the golf course very well. Played it probably as much as any golf course that we play on Tour, and possibly one of the ones I’ve played the most out of all the golf courses in the world.

So yeah, I think at this stage, I know where to be and not to be, and it’s a question if I can hit it where I want to be and not the other way around.

So yeah, we talked before about all the great facilities, weather, food, hotels, everything. It’s enjoyable weeks to start out the year, and yeah, it’s great to be back.

CLARE BODEL: You obviously ended 2019 with a win over in the US. Feeling good coming into the new European Tour season.

HENRIK STENSON: Yeah, I think as anyone knows, when you win a tournament, it’s probably better to keep on going. Possibly would have been better to have the OMEGA Dubai Desert Classic in mid-December, but yeah, I’ve had a nice break, and we’re just trying to kind of pick up where we left off.

But it’s still early, and got a few things that we’re working on, and we’re just going to try, as any week, you try and do the best you can out there and hopefully come Sunday, you’re somewhere within reach, and anything can happen. It’s tough competition and a lot of guys want to win the golf tournament these days, so if you can be there, you’ve always got a chance.

Q. As your career has progressed, you used to start the season really well over here, and now it looks like the middle of the season is becoming more of your kind of a game.
HENRIK STENSON: That sounds great, all the majors in the summer. (Laughter).

Q. Is that the right picture?
HENRIK STENSON: Yeah, I think you’re right. I certainly had some better runs in the early part of the year, probably a few years back, than it has been, I don’t know if that’s also a sign of long seasons and short breaks and then you kind of get going again.

The problem when you have not much of an off-season, we don’t really have a chance to both take the breaks and have time to practice and prepare before you start up the season again.

So in a way, I guess the early tournaments, at the same time you want to play your best and play well because they are great events; it’s also a bit of a chance to get going and pick up the pace for the year ahead, because if you’ve got four or five weeks off, you’re not going to be out there on the range grinding it out during those four or five weeks. You need that mentally more than anything to get away from the game a little bit and rest up, and get ready to head out again.

So it could be a combination. I mean, awhile back, I used to live here, as well, so it was quite easy. You’re just rolling out of bed and you’re on the first tee. That might have something to do with it, also.

Q. And when you win a tournament towards the end of the year, how much of a confidence can you take into the new year, despite having that break?
HENRIK STENSON: Yeah, there were a few things that were really positive for me. Again, winning is never getting old. Doesn’t matter how many times you’ve done it, and it certainly is a limited field in the Bahamas, but it’s a stellar field, and it was a tight Sunday lineup with Gary and Justin Thomas, Tiger and myself I think within two shots, and then another couple, Jon, as well, and a few guys behind us.

So to come out victorious out of that game was very pleasing, and didn’t really have much chances to win other tournaments in 2019. So when you pretty much have one chance, it’s the last event, it was great to take that opportunity, and it’s a confidence boost winning, even though I didn’t feel like — I probably played, I don’t know, 80, 90 percent. I didn’t feel like I played at my absolute best, but still did everything well enough to be able to get to 18-under, I think the winning score was in the end.

I think that was one of the key things for me. A lot of my wins, I feel like I’ve played really, really well, and I think in the Bahamas, I didn’t feel like I played as well as I’ve done with some of my other wins. So to beat those guys when you still feel like you have a little bit extra, if everything is working, that was certainly a boost, as well.

Q. You said you had just about five weeks between the win and you would have loved for the season to continue. So what did you do? Did you put the clubs away for those five weeks?
HENRIK STENSON: Yeah, they were due for a break.

Q. Did you try any new clubs?
HENRIK STENSON: Yeah, there hasn’t been a lot of golf before I headed out to Singapore. So a little bit of shaking the rust away in America. I stopped for a day here to see Pete on my way to Singapore, and obviously we’re back up here this week.

Yeah, not much golf during those four weeks. I was driving a 40-foot RV in the California countryside. That normally doesn’t improve — it can improve your driving, which I think it did, but not much else in terms of golfing.

Q. This is the Olympic year, and you had a great 14 years ago. So I’m sure it’s very much up there on your list of things. How do you look forward to it, four years of great memories of that, and now coming back?
HENRIK STENSON: Yeah, I hope to get one of the two spots for Sweden in the Tokyo Olympics, and I had a great experience in Rio. It fun to see the Games from the inside and be a part of that.

As a sporting fan growing up, I always watched the big events in both Summer and Winter Olympics. Following that, it was never something on my mind really because golf wasn’t in it, and then it did come on board in 2012. So we had a few years to really set our sights on being there, and we had a great time and did well.

I was having a good match against Justin there for the gold on Sunday and came out one short, but still, I think most people would take a place on the podium when you go to the Olympics. So it was a great week and I look forward to having another shot in Tokyo.

Q. There’s a lot of good, young players in the game just now, but it’s been a good spell you winning, Lee winning, Matt Kuchar winning. What message do you think that sends out, and is it good for the game that the older players can still compete with these young guns?
HENRIK STENSON: Definitely I think it’s good for the older players to win (laughter).

Yeah, the golf course doesn’t know if you’re 20, 30 or 40 when you’re teeing it up, right. It’s all about bringing as good of a game as you can do, and we know experience is a good part in this game to have, and played it in different conditions over the years and different courses and all the rest.

So I think we — at times we can’t really compete with the longest players in the game but we can compete with other factors, and of course, that’s something we try to do as good as we can and yeah, we certainly keep the dreams alive of winning golf tournaments.

Henrik Stenson talks Ryder Cup

Q. You’ve done pretty well yourself getting on to Ryder Cup teams. How difficult is this one going to be given the talent that’s around at the moment?
HENRIK STENSON: Yeah, every time there’s new and upcoming players that are going to take a spot, and that means a few of us who has played a few of them are not going to be on there.

It’s certainly one of my main goals this year to play in Whistling Straits. I’ve had a pretty nice run at The Ryder Cup. I’ve played five and been part of the winning team three times, but they have all been in Europe. So I feel like it’s one little box to tick and that would be being on a winning team on away soil and I think if that’s going to happen, 2020 is the one.

Q. You mentioned the break that you needed and the time to practice, but you also mentioned the Olympics, The Ryder Cup. With the four majors and Scandinavian, how would you pace yourself in an ideal world?
HENRIK STENSON: Yeah, it’s going to be busy. I’m having all February off from tournament play, and I play all of March in the States, and then it’s a little bit of an on/off for the next couple of months there.

Once we get to Sweden, then it’s straight back to U.S. Open, and yeah, from kind of when the early part of the summer, it’s going to be quite a lot of golf, a lot of travel and big events. Yeah, you don’t want to get into that part of the year being exhausted, because you will run out of fuel at some point then.

So yeah, hopefully that break in February, we can come out ready and strong and pick up some momentum for that spring and summer.

Q. Similar to the question about Lee Westwood winning and longevity, the success of both your careers on The European Tour, what do you put that down to, and did you send Lee a text or anything after that win?
HENRIK STENSON: Sorry, say again, if I?

Q. The longevity of your careers on The European Tour, what do you put that down to, and can you share with us a story of you and Lee, maybe on Tour in your early days?
HENRIK STENSON: Yeah, I actually played with Lee one of my first — it might have been the first time I played the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth, and we were far back in the field. I guess we needed some motivation, so I ended up taking 20 quid from him on the back nine at Wentworth (laughter).

I know we’re not supposed to be betting against each other, but we needed something to spark, and I got 20 pounds from him back then. So that would have been one of the early memories. I think that was the first time I played with him.

Quite long careers. I guess we pace ourselves. I don’t know if it’s down to possibly swing; if your swing is not taking too much toll on your body and not wearing your back down too much, you probably can keep it going. It’s down to I’ve spent a lot of time on the physical side the last ten years to try and buy myself some extra time, and for recovery and practice everything and else.

I guess both Lee and myself, we’ve been solid ball-strikers, and if you have a good foundation to fall back on, you can be out here a long time.

Henrik Stenson speaks about life outside of golf

Q. In the last few years, you’ve successfully done things away from the golf course, the golf course designing, the book, Hank. Is Hank making a comeback, first of all, any time soon? And how is your designing business going? Are you looking into any new course, and what’s the kind of feedback that you received for your course in Sweden?
HENRIK STENSON: Yeah, Hank, he’s still alive. He’s still around. I don’t think he’s going to make any new — we need to sell a few more of the old books before make a new one I think (laughter).

I mean, those were kind of some fun, side projects. Yeah, the business in the golf course design, it’s still going very much. We’re trying to launch the brand in America. So we’ve got some people over there that’s going to do some work and see if we can get it going in the States, because as you know, a big part of the golfing world is in America, and golf course design-wise, we opened the first course in Stockholm in September last year. It’s been well-received and had some really good feedback, so that’s great for your first project.

We’ve still got another golf course to design there in the next couple years, and yeah, we’ll have a few requests here and there around the world and we’ll see where the next one will be.

Q. We just spoke about Stockholm and your Scandinavian Masters. Can you tell us about how the Scandinavian event, with you and Annika hosting it, how did it come about and will it be a mixed event?
HENRIK STENSON: So the Scandinavian Mixed, it’s really a brand new concept. As you know, The European Tour has been very innovative in the last five or ten years working with promotors and coming up with some different concepts.

Yeah, we lost the ladies tournament in Sweden about five or six years ago, and given the history we have with so many great women players coming out of Sweden and with the success they have had, it’s really a shame that we didn’t have a ladies tournament anymore.

Yeah, the thought came from the guys who have been running the event, really, LET jumped on board and Annika came along and it’s going to be the first of its kind. One first prize, 78 men, 78 women playing, different tee boxes of course, but everything else is as is, and I think it’s going to be a very exciting week. I think it will be a great week for any golf fans in the northern part of Europe, and feel free, if you’ve got your week off, then you can come and join us in Stockholm.

I think it’s going to be great for all the golf fans to see men and women playing together. Imagine the time savings, you don’t need to go to two different tournaments, you come to one. You’re saving a week’s time and vacation. We should be thanked a lot (laughter). Time management at its best. Look forward to seeing you here this week and in Stockholm in June.

CLARE BODEL: Thank you, Henrik.

January 22, 2020

Dubai, UAE

FastScripts Transcript by ASAP Sports