Henrik Stenson’s final round 66 left the rest of the best field in golf adrift in a wake so turbulent no one could get within four shots of him. Beginning the day 5 shots back of leader Alex Cjeka, along with a host of other probables, maybes, could possibly be’s, and one Tiger Woods, Mr. Stenson missed a single fairway and made no bogeys all day. Good enough by any standards on a day when lots of folks were given a chance by the collapse of third round leader Mr. Cjeka. Before the day even began I would have bet my own money that the 54 hole leader’s 5 shot lead would be gone by the turn. I was wrong! Mr. Cjeka’s lead was done after six holes. He and playing partner Mr. Woods didn’t see much of each other on the first three holes, Mr. Woods hitting shots right while Mr. Cjeka hit his shots left.
Ben Crane had the lead for a while, as did Retief Goosen and Ian Poulter when Mr. Stenson rolled in a birdie but from the fringe of the seventh green. By the time he walked off the ninth green, after a two putt birdie, Mr. Stenson had the lead to himself. At least nine other players had a shot at winning on the back nine, none however could match the play of the eventual winner. John Mallenger and Kevin Na tied for third, both shooting final round 70, behind second place Mr. Poulter. Jim Furyk had a chance, but ran out of holes in the end. Brian Davis had an eagle on the 9th hole to join the mix, but couldn’t keep pace.
Mr. Stenson kept hitting all the shots and making all the putts. “Pretty incredible,” Woods said. “He played great. We all know he’s got all the talent in the world to do this. It was just a matter of time before he put it together. To do it on this stage was pretty impressive.” The course was hard and fast, almost like a US Open without the ankle eating rough. On a couple of holes on the back nine Mr. Stenson hit 3 wood off the tee, without using a tee. He just bumped up a knob of turf, put the ball atop it, and whacked it forever down the fairway. Very impressive. An exhibition of quality golf on a very difficult course under a heap of big time pressure. It seemed at times like he was playing a completely different game from the rest of the contenders just because he was so in control of his game. No overt signs of stress, nothing hurried, just hit the ball, chase it, and hit it again.
“It just seems to bring the best out of me when I have to, playing the best players,” said Stenson, whose other U.S. victory came at the Accenture Match Play Championship two years ago. He also won in Dubai, finishing two shots ahead of Woods. “Obviously, now I feel like I’m up there where I belong when I’m playing good.” After winning $1.7 million and moving to number 5 in the world rankings, it’s not hard to feel that way. Probably because the reality is the truth of that statement, he does belong right where he is now.
Johnny Miller, early in the broadcast, asked if maybe Tiger Wood’s biceps were too big. The implication being that might be the reason he kept hitting the ball to the right. Strange thought even coming from Mr. Miller, whose thoughts are released vocally without passing through a filtration system. At first I thought there was some meaning behind the statement, then it occurred to me it was just Mr. Miller at his best. I don’t think any other announcer would make that remark. For that matter I don’t think any other announcer would have that thought. Good on you Johnny Miller, for thinking is noticeably absent in the commentators booths all too often these days.
