Tag: Henrik Stenson

“How Swede it is”

Swede Henrik Stenson is on top of the golfing world. His victory yesterday at the Tour Championship by Coca-Cola was indeed very “sweet”. It was sweet to the tune of $11,440,000. Stenson became the first European to win the Fed Ex Cup.

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He was up to the pressure all weekend long through torrential rains on Saturday and immense pressure on Sunday. He showed lots of toughness parring both the tough 17th and 18th holes yesterday with amazing bunker shots. He is right now playing the best golf of anyone on the planet.

Neither Tiger nor Phil was ever a factor which surprised me a bit, especially Tiger, who has done some pretty amazing things around East Lake over the years but not so this year. As for Mickelson, he always appears to be less than stimulated by any event that is not a major. This is not to say he isn’t prepared and he doesn’t want to win, but for Phil, it’s a major or bust.

Now can Stenson continue this amazing play through the winter months and be a factor atAugustanext April? The storylines are going to be gushing with excitement. Stay tuned.

Comeback stories are the best!

Last week, we saw two great champions who fell down to deep depths only to rise again, and it was great.  Both Henrik Stenson and Trevor Immelman won tournaments.  Stenson won the Deutsche Bank Classic on the Fed-Ex Cup finals and Immelman won the first leg of the Web.Com finals/PGA Tour Q School.

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Both are terrific stories of persistence and determination to get back to world class status.  Stenson looks to be having fun on the course and Immelman took his potential loss of a tour card in stride.  I embrace these stories and I hope you do, too.

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Immelman had injuries that stymied his career after winning the 2008 Masters. Severe tendonitis in his left wrist and elbow cut short his 2009 and 2010 seasons, and since then he struggled to regain his form.  Only a positive outlook and a great family rooting section kept his spirits moving forward.  He is indeed a champion again. Welcome back, Trevor, you are where you should be!

Stenson won the 2009 Players and climbed to number 4 in the world golf rankings. That was followed by a monumental loss of his game which led a dramatic drop to a low of 230 in the world rankings in early 2012.  His rise has been nothing short of spectacular—coming in second at this year’s British Open and third at this year’sPGAChampionship.  Therefore it came really as no surprise at all when he won the Deutsche Bank last week and is now #1 on the Fed Ex Cup Standings heading into the final two events.

These two men are proof that the talent never goes away, confidence and form may but talent never does.  A commitment to getting back never left them for even one moment. It is a lesson we can all learn from—persistence, determination and love of and for the game never ends.