Tour News
Stenson’s 2013: A masterclass in perseverance
At the beginning of the 2012, the 230th spot in the Official World Golf Ranking belonged to a washed-up former top player in the world who had nearly completely lost his game after a few good years in the late-2000s, highlighted by a win of The Players Championship in 2009.
That guy was Henrik Stenson, the draw-hitting Swede known primarily for the sunglasses he nearly always wore on the golf course. In the years of his decline, the draw turned to a hook and his decent putting abilities turned against him, dragging his confidence into the gutter.
Now, those days seem to belong to another player altogether, as Stenson capped a torrid reemergence as one of professional golf’s major figures last weekend in the United Arab Emirates, adding the European Tour’s Race To Dubai title to the FedEx Cup he snatched in September. A final-round 64, punctuated by an eagle on No. 18, gave Stenson a six-shot victory in the tournament, a Race to Dubai margin of victory of nearly a million points over Ian Poulter and the No. 3 spot on the Official World Golf Ranking.
Stenson became the second player to top major lists for both the PGA and European Tours since Luke Donald won the PGA and European Tours’ money lists in 2011. Stateside, he entered the FedEx Cup Playoffs in ninth place on the strength of six regular-season top-10s. He seemed to play his best golf in the biggest tournaments, tying for 18th at the Masters, for 21st at the U.S. Open and finishing second at the Open Championship and third at the PGA Championship. He broke through into the winner’s circle in the second FedEx Playoff event, the Deutsche Bank Championship, and dominated the field at the Tour Championship, earning the FedEx Cup trophy and a $10 million bonus for his exploits.
Whereas most great players separate themselves by making a few more putts than their peers, Stenson made his hay tee-to-green in 2013. He has completely turned his ball-striking around in two years: in 2011, he hit a scant 59.17 percent of his greens in regulation, leaving him 187th on Tour in that statistic. In 2013, he hit a shade under 72 percent, the best mark on Tour. In more concrete terms, that is 13 greens in regulation per round, compared to a 2011 total of 10 or 11. Those two or three extra birdie putts per round add up massively over the course of a year. And they are almost always going to be from closer to the hole, on average—after all, Stenson also raised his driving accuracy numbers from nearly 56 percent (163rd on Tour) in 2011 to just over 70 percent (s) in 2013.
Statistics are all well and good, but anecdotes from fellow tour players and other golf writers also indicates that 2013 saw a more serene, even-keeled Stenson, for the most part—his well-publicized mangling of a locker at Conway Farms Golf Club during the FedEx Cup Playoffs’ BMW Championship seeming to be a rare relapse. This is no doubt an important indicator of what the golf world ought to expect from Stenson as an encore to his terrific 2013 campaign. After his 2009 peak, the responsibility and self-generated expectations of beginning an earnest pursuit of major championships may have gotten to Stenson, who would love to become the first Swede to win one of professional men’s golf’s biggest titles. If his newfound more zen temperament is here to stay, look for him to compete at Augusta in April.
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News
Photos from the 2024 Wells Fargo Championship
GolfWRX is live this week at the Wells Fargo Championship as a field of the world’s best golfers descend upon Charlotte, North Carolina, hoping to tame the beast that is Quail Hollow Club in this Signature Event — only Scottie Scheffler, who is home awaiting the birth of his first child, is absent.
From the grounds at Quail Hollow, we have our usual assortment of general galleries and WITBs — including a look at left-hander Akshay Bhatia’s setup. Among the pullout albums, we have a look inside Cobra’s impressive new tour truck for you to check out. Also featured is a special look at Quail Hollow king, Rory McIlroy.
Be sure to check back throughout the week as we add more galleries.
General Albums
WITB Albums
- Akshay Bhatia – WITB – 2024 Wells Fargo Championship
- Matthieu Pavon – WITB – 2024 Wells Fargo Championship
- Rory McIlroy – 2024 Wells Fargo Championship
Pullout Albums
See what GolfWRXers are saying about our Wells Fargo Championship photos in the forums.
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Tour Photo Galleries
Photos from the 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson
GolfWRX is on site this week in McKinney, Texas, at the 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson (FKA the AT&T Byron Nelson).
Last year at TPC Craig Ranch, Jason Day ended a five-year winless streak. J-Day is in the field again, as are Jordan Spieth, Tom Kim, and Will Zalatoris.
We have our usual assortment of general galleries, WITBs, and pullout albums for your perusal. As always, we’ll continue to add links to additional albums as they make their way to us from the Lone Star State.
Check out links to all our photos below.
General Albums
- 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson – Monday #1
- 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson – Monday #2
- 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson – Tuesday #1
- 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson – Tuesday #2
- 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson – Tuesday #3
WITB Albums
- Pierceson Coody – WITB – 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson
- Kris Kim – WITB – 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson
- David Nyfjall – WITB – 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson
- Adrien Dumont de Chassart – WITB – 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson
- Jarred Jetter – North Texas PGA Section Champ – WITB – 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson
- Richy Werenski – WITB – 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson
- Wesley Bryan – WITB – 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson
- Parker Coody – WITB – 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson
- Peter Kuest – WITB – 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson
- Blaine Hale, Jr. – WITB – 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson
- Kelly Kraft – WITB – 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson
- Rico Hoey – WITB – 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson
Pullout Albums
- Adam Scott’s 2 new custom L.A.B. Golf putters – 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson
- Scotty Cameron putters – 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson
- Ben Griffin playing Maxfli golf ball
See what GolfWRXers are saying in the forums.
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Tour Photo Galleries
Photos from the 2024 Zurich Classic of New Orleans
GolfWRX is live on site this week at the Zurich Classic of New Orleans for the PGA Tour’s one-and-only two-man team event.
As usual, general galleries, WITBs, and pullout albums — including some pretty spicy custom putters and headcovers — await your viewing.
Be sure to check back for more photos from the Big Easy, as we’ll continue to update this page with additional galleries throughout the week.
General Albums
- 2024 Zurich Classic – Monday #1
- 2024 Zurich Classic – Monday #2
- 2024 Zurich Classic – Tuesday #1
- 2024 Zurich Classic – Tuesday #2
WITB Albums
- Alex Fitzpatrick – WITB – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Austin Cook – WITB – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Alejandro Tosti – WITB – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Davis Riley – WITB – 2024 Zurich Classic
- MJ Daffue – WITB – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Nate Lashley – WITB – 2024 Zurich Classic
- James Nicholas – WITB – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Kevin Streelman – WITB – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Rasmus Hojgaard – WITB – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Tom Whitney – WITB – 2024 Zurich Classic
- SangMoon Bae – WITB – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Daniel Berger – WITB – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Rory McIlroy – WITB – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Russ Cochrane – WITB – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Aldrich Potgieter – WITB – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Steve Stricker WITB – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Drew Brees WITB (Legendary New Orleans Saints QB) – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Derek Carr (New Orleans Saints QB) – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Thriston Lawrence WITB – 2024 Zurich Classic
Pullout Albums
- MJ Daffue’s custom Cameron putter – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Cameron putters – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Swag covers ( a few custom for Nick Hardy) – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Custom Bettinardi covers for Matt and Alex Fitzpatrick – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Doug Ghim’s custom Cameron putter – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Patrick Cantlay spotted testing a Scotty Cameron blade putter – 2024 Zurich Classic
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AJ
Nov 25, 2013 at 10:02 am
“Stenson became the second player to top major lists for both the PGA and European Tours since Luke Donald won the PGA and European Tours’ money lists in 2011”
So McIlroy 2012 has been forgotten? Both money lists as well…
Brett
Nov 23, 2013 at 5:43 am
Ben Hogan 72/72. Pinehurst. 1st win
Jack
Nov 21, 2013 at 3:41 am
Wow 68 of 72? Geez. Amazing
Pat M
Nov 20, 2013 at 10:34 pm
I am very happy for Henrik. He is the king of golf right now and a great chap.
Taylor
Nov 20, 2013 at 5:06 pm
Stenson is a beast right now. I hope he keeps it up for next year’s Majors.
Nick O'Hern
Nov 20, 2013 at 4:34 pm
Does anyone know if the number of greens Stenson hit (68/72) at the finale in Dubai is a record on any professional tour?
Cheers