The year 2016 promises to be a landmark one for Henrik Stenson, and not only because he enters the golfing season as the sixth highest-ranked player in the world, or has a place within sight on Team Sweden at the Rio Olympics, or a fourth Ryder Cup appearance to aim for.
Personally, too, there comes a milestone mark on April 5, when Stenson follows Tiger Woods in becoming the latest high-profile golfer to turn 40. It just so happens that the Masters tees off that week as well, when Stenson enters the year’s opening major and resumes his quest to add what many consider the one glaring omission on his CV.
It does not take too much to guess what would make the perfect gift.
“Thanks for reminding me,” Stenson jokes, referring to the big date. “Obviously my birthday is always around the time of the Masters, so taking home a green jacket would be a nice present. Aside from that, anything that my kids have made for me, or something thoughtful from them is usually enough to make me smile and will help me forget that I’m 40 years old.”
Until now, there has been plenty worth remembering. Stenson has 17 professional victories, including four in the Middle East, while in 2013 he became the first to capture the FedEx Cup and Race to Dubai – and in the same season.
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His performance at the 2014 DP World Tour Championship, when he won the European Tour’s finale for the second successive year, seemed to set him up for a major tilt last season, however a tied-19th at the Masters constituted his best result in the calendar’s four main events.
In fact, Stenson went winless for the first year since 2011, finishing runner-up at six events. So, as the Swede opens the 2016 season this week at the Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship, how does he reflect on his 2015?
“A lot of people have been asking me this and in all honesty I would still consider the season to be a success due to the consistency of my performances,” he says. “I was knocking on the door all year both in Europe and on the PGA Tour and have to take the positives from that.
“A couple of my runner-up finishes were down to some incredible golf being played by some world-class players, while others were when parts of my game were not 100 per cent and I did extremely well to even be challenging.
“If I keep doing what I’m doing and maybe hole a couple more putts hopefully I’ll be holding a trophy soon ... maybe a falcon-shaped one this week?”
Just like the absence of a major championship, the Falcon Trophy is another blotch on Stenson’s copybook. A former Dubai resident, he has generally struck oil in the desert, collecting every other available trinket: the DP World Tour Championship twice, the Omega Dubai Desert Classic, the Qatar Masters and the seasonal Race to Dubai crown.
Yet despite the constant commitment to Abu Dhabi – Stenson has been an ever-present since its inception in 2006 – he remains one shy of completing the set. He came closest in 2006 and 2008, finishing second to Chris DiMarco and Martin Kaymer respectively.
But, then again, adding the Falcon Trophy is just the first on a long list of targets this season. Stenson has recovered from a minor operation on his knee last month and, together with finally breaking through at a major, has ringed on the calendar golf’s return to the Olympics in August and Europe’s defence of the Ryder Cup, in the United States, the following month.
No wonder his competitive juices are already flowing.
“2016 is going to be a massive year for golf with both the Olympics and the Ryder Cup and I can’t wait,” Stenson says. “I love the atmosphere at the Ryder Cup and enjoyed getting back into the fold in 2014, having played in 2006 and 2008.
“Before I made the team for Gleneagles I had this feeling that I wasn’t done with the event and really wanted to get the European shirt on once more. I know I’m in a good place to qualify for the team again this year, but there’s still plenty of golf to be played and I’ve still got to prove to everyone that I deserve to be on the team.
“In terms of the Olympics, as a sports fan I grew up watching both the Summer and Winter Olympics so if I am able to compete for Sweden and maybe even pick up a medal, it would be an extremely special moment for me.”
Stenson is seeking one such moment this week, although he understands it will be difficult. Abu Dhabi boasts another strong field, headed by debutant and world No 1 Jordan Spieth, third-ranked Rory McIlroy and Rickie Fowler, the world No 5.
It means golf’s new wave comes rolling through the National Course, reinforcing the tournament’s growing appeal while also providing Stenson an early look at what he is up against this season.
As one of the game’s more experienced campaigners, he is well placed to pass judgment on the current state of the sport. It can also help keep professional fires burning.
“The next generation of young guys coming through is extremely exciting for golf,” Stenson says. “In terms of how it impacts me, obviously with better players coming through it makes it harder to win on the PGA Tour, but it’s tough to win anyway, so I can’t let that get me down.
“It makes me want to work even harder on my game. What guys like me have going for us is that we have experience on our side from playing under pressure on more occasions to competing over certain courses that are difficult for you to get accustomed to.”
Maybe Spieth should take heed, as he prepares to make his Abu Dhabi bow. The 22-year-old American appears to be in fine shape, anyway, continuing a breakout 2015 that included two majors and the FedEx Cup crown with last week’s rampant victory at the Tournament of Champions in Hawaii. Abu Dhabi awaits.
“Having someone like Jordan come underlines the stature of this event as one of the best of the European Tour season and gives me another world-class player to have to try and beat to the title,” Stenson says.
“We all know he is probably the best putter in the world and I saw that first-hand over the first two rounds at Augusta last year.
“What he achieved in 2015 can be used for inspiration to any golfer on tour. It just makes us all work harder and focus that little bit more to try and beat him.”
Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship event information
What: 2016 Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship
When: January 18-24
Where: National Course, Abu Dhabi Golf Club
Who: 122-strong field, including four of the world's top 6
Tickets: Free entry on Monday and Tuesday (practice days) and Wednesday (Pro-Am). Tickets and packages available from midday Monday at www.abudhabigolfchampionship.com at Dh50 for daily pass, Dh150 for four-day pass. Guests staying at any Abu Dhabi hotel over the championship period enter free.
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