Henrik Stenson has had one of the best seasons this year on the PGA Tour. On Monday, Stenson finally broke through and won the Deutsche Bank Championship at TPC Boston. It is his first win on the PGA Tour since his win at the Players Championship in 2009. Stenson hit his peek at that tournament in 2009 as he was ranked fourth in the world. Things would change drastically for Stenson over the next couple years.
Henrik fell of the face of the world rankings dropping from fourth to six hundred and twenty first in the matter of two years. His game fell apart mentally and physically. In 2010 and 2011 Henrik missed six cuts in both season. He found one win in a non PGA Tour event in 2011. That proved Stenson could still play some great golf, but he had to regain that confidence. 2012 was an up and down battle for Stenson. He wasn’t getting cut, but he still couldn’t find his true form with only one top ten finish.
Henrik decided to work on his short game and accuracy during the winter break. It proved to be a turning point in his great comeback. Stenson began his 2013 season with a hot start finishing in the top ten three times in March, two of which were ties for second place. Stenson had a few decent tournaments at the Masters, Players, and U.S. Open. Henrik finished in a tie for fifth at TPC Sawgrass, the course where Stenson had won his 2009 Players. These three big time tournaments gave Henrik the confidence to just go out on the golf course and play his game.
After the U.S. Open, Stenson began to find his best form. Henrik finished in a tie for third in the Scotish Open. The Scotish Open was his tune up for the seasons third major, the British Open. Stenson played exceptional on the tough Muirfield course, but Phil Mickelson’s back nine was one for the ages as Mickelson took home the Claret Jug. Stenson finished second at even par. The next tournament Stenson finished in a tie for second as Tiger Woods cruised to a win. Stenson was prepared for the seasons last major, the PGA Championship. He fought hard the whole weekend to fall short again, finishing in a tie for third. Stenson’s great form had put him back into the top ten in the World Golf Rankings for the first time since 2009.
It also put him in good shape going into the FedEx Cup Playoffs. As a viewer, I could feel Henrik’s pain as he was finishing in the top five almost every event, but could not find that win. It all changed today. He finally broke through and won. This win doesn’t just get the monkey off his back, but it puts Stenson in first place in the FedEx Cup Standings. Henrik is now in pole position for the FedEx Cup title and the ten million dollars awarded to the winner. Stenson’s story may be one to tell for the ages. His world ranking went from fourth to six hundred and twenty first back up to sixth, after the win, is truly a comeback story.