Henrik Stenson not only became Sweden’s first male major golf champion when he won The Open at Royal Troon.
He set a new Open tournament record of 20-under, beating Tiger Woods’ 19-under at The Open in 2000 at St Andrews, and 18-under set by Nick Faldo at St Andrews in 1990, and Woods at Hoylake in 2006.
Stenson’s 264 also broke Greg Norman’s record 267 at the 1993 Open in Royal St George’s, and the 268 set by Tom Watson at Turnberry in 1977, and Nick Price, also at Turnberry, in 1994.
Stenson’s final round 63 equalled the final rounds of Jodie Mudd who finished fifth at Royal Birkdale in 1991, and Payne Stewart who finished 12th at Royal St George’s in 1993.
But Stenson wasn’t finished there.
Woods won the 2000 US Open at 12-under, 15 shots to the good of second place. The tournament average was 17-over, Woods beating that stat by 29 shots.
Stenson’s 20-under beat the field average of 9-over by 29.
The Stenson-Phil Mickelson pairing at the tail of the field in the final round was a best-ball 60.
Fantastic golf on the demanding Royal Troon layout.
With an eagle and five birdies, they were 7-under 29 on the front nine, with five birdies and a bogey on the home nine to card 4-under 31.
While Stenson was the first Swedish male major champion, Swedish ladies have accumulated 14, headed by the best of them Annika Sorenstam with 10, and Helen Alfredsson, Liselotte Neumann, Jenny Lidback, and Anna Nordquist claiming one each.
Stenson and Sorenstam have recently been nominated among Sweden’s top 20 sporting superstars of all-time.
Tennis legend Bjorn Borg heads the list with Stenson at 16, and Sorenstam at 18.
For closure, Henrik Stenson has joined an elite group of major champions who have turned 40.
At 48:
Julius Boros – 1968 PGA.
At 46:
Old Tom Morris – 1867 Open.
Jack Nicklaus – 1986 Masters.
At 45:
Jerry Barber – 1961 PGA.
Hale Irwin – 1990 US Open.
At 44:
Lee Trevino – 1984 PGA.
Roberto de Vicenzo – 1967 Open.
At 43:
Old Tom Morris – 1864 Open.
Ted Ray – 1920 US Open.
Julius Boros – 1963 US Open.
Raymond Floyd – 1986 US Open.
Ben Crenshaw – 1995 Masters.
Phil Mickelson – 2013 Open.
At 42:
Willie Park – 1875 Open.
JH Taylor – 1913 Open.
Tommy Bolt – 1958 US Open.
Gary Player – 1978 Masters.
Tom Kite – 1992 US Open.
Payne Stewart – 1999 US Open.
Darren Clarke – 2011 Open.
Ernie Els – 2012 Open.
At 41:
Old Tom Morris – 1862 Open.
Harry Vardon – 1911 Open.
Henry Cotton – 1948 Open.
Sam Snead – 1984 Masters.
Mark O’Meara – 1998 Masters.
Mark O’Meara – 1998 Open.
Vijay Singh – 2004 PGA.
At 40:
Old Tom Morris – 1861 Open.
Jamie Braid – 1910 Open.
Ben Hogan – 1953 Masters
Ben Hogan – 1953 US Open.
Ben Hogan – 1953 Open.
Jack Nicklaus – 1980 US Open.
Jack Nicklaus – 1980 PGA.
Henrik Stenson – 2016 Open.
Indeed golfing life began at 40 for Henrik Stenson.
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