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.
- LIKE0
- LEGIT0
- WOW0
- LOL0
- IDHT0
- FLOP0
- OB0
- SHANK0
Tour Photo Galleries
Photos from the 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open
GolfWRX is on site in the Lone Star State this week for the Texas Children’s Houston Open.
General galleries from the putting green and range, WITBs — including Thorbjorn Olesen and Zac Blair — and several pull-out albums await.
As always, we’ll continue to update as more photos flow in. Check out links to all our photos from Houston below.
General Albums
- 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open – Monday #1
- 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open – Monday #2
- 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open – Tuesday #1
- 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open – Tuesday #2
- 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open – Tuesday #3
WITB Albums
- Thorbjorn Olesen – WITB – 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open
- Ben Silverman – WITB – 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open
- Jesse Droemer – SoTX PGA Section POY – WITB – 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open
- David Lipsky – WITB – 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open
- Martin Trainer – WITB – 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open
- Zac Blair – WITB – 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open
- Jacob Bridgeman – WITB – 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open
- Trace Crowe – WITB – 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open
- Daniel Berger – WITB(very mini) – 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open
- Chesson Hadley – WITB – 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open
- Callum McNeill – WITB – 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open
- Rhein Gibson – WITB – 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open
- Patrick Fishburn – WITB – 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open
- Peter Malnati – WITB – 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open
- Raul Pereda – WITB – 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open
- Gary Woodland WITB (New driver, iron shafts) – 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open
- Padraig Harrington WITB – 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open
Pullout Albums
- Tom Hoge’s custom Cameron – 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open
- Cameron putter – 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open
- Piretti putters – 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open
- Ping putter – 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open
- Kevin Dougherty’s custom Cameron putter – 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open
- Bettinardi putter – 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open
- Cameron putter – 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open
- Erik Barnes testing an all-black Axis1 putter – 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open
- Tony Finau’s new driver shaft – 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open
See what GolfWRXers are saying in the forums.
- LIKE19
- LEGIT5
- WOW2
- LOL4
- IDHT0
- FLOP1
- OB0
- SHANK0
Tour Photo Galleries
Photos from the 2024 Players Championship
On the heels of Scottie Scheffler’s dominant victory at Bay Hill, the PGA Tour heads a little farther north in Florida to TPC Sawgrass this week for The Players Championship. And of course, GolfWRX is on site to get a look at what the players are playing.
We’ve already spotted a new Titleist mini driver this week, and there’s plenty more.
Check out our photos below!
Pullout Albums
- New Titleist 2 wood – 2024 The Players Championship
- Cam Young testing Titleist’s new 2-wood – 2024 THE PLAYERS Championship
- Hole Nos. 17 and 18 – 2024 THE PLAYERS Championship
- Toulon Small Batch Texas putter – 2024 The Players Championship
- Swag Golf custom headcovers – 2024 The Players Championship
- New Ping PLD staff bags – 2024 The Players Championship
- SuperStroke St. Patrick’s Day putter grip – 2024 The Players Championship
- Taylor Montgomery using PuttView X training goggles – 2024 The Players Championship
- LIKE4
- LEGIT0
- WOW1
- LOL2
- IDHT0
- FLOP0
- OB0
- SHANK0
Tour Photo Galleries
Photos from the 2024 Arnold Palmer Invitational
GolfWRX is on the ground in Orlando ahead of the 2024 Arnold Palmer Invitational at Bay Hill Club & Lodge.
We’re assembling our usual collection of WITB photos, general galleries, and of course, gear inspired by the King himself.
We’ll continue to add to the photos below as more flow in from Florida.
General Albums
- 2024 Arnold Palmer Invitational – Monday #1
- 2024 Arnold Palmer Invitational – Monday #2
- 2024 Arnold Palmer Invitational – Monday #3
- 2024 Arnold Palmer Invitational – Tuesday #1
- 2024 Arnold Palmer Invitational – Tuesday #2
- 2024 Arnold Palmer Invitational – Tuesday #1 (thanks, bvmagic!)
- 2024 Arnold Palmer Invitational – Tuesday #3 (bvmagic)
- 2024 Arnold Palmer Invitational – Tuesday #2 (bvmagic)
WITB Albums
- Matt (LFG) Every – WITB – 2024 Arnold Palmer Invitational
- Sahith Theegala – WITB – 2024 Arnold Palmer Invitational
- Scottie Scheffler – WITB – 2024 Arnold Palmer Invitational
- Luke List – WITB – 2024 Arnold Palmer Invitational
- Adam Schenk – WITB – 2024 Arnold Palmer Invitational
- Taylor Moore – WITB – 2024 Arnold Palmer Invitational
- David Ford – WITB – 2024 Arnold Palmer Invitational
- Patrick Cantlay – WITB – 2024 Arnold Palmer Invitational
Pullout Albums
- New Cameron putters (and new “LD” grip) – 2024 Arnold Palmer Invitational
- New Bettinardi MB & CB irons – 2024 Arnold Palmer Invitational
- Custom Bettinardi API putter cover – 2024 Arnold Palmer Invitational
- Custom Swag API covers – 2024 Arnold Palmer Invitational
- New Golf Pride Reverse Taper grips – 2024 Arnold Palmer Invitational
- New PXG putters – 2024 Arnold Palmer Invitational
- Scottie Scheffler putter change – 2024 Arnold Palmer Invitational
- Sepp Straka – shaft change to new Ventus blue – 2024 Arnold Palmer Invitational
- Rickie Fowler’s new Cobra Darkspeed X driver and Denali shaft (and Radspeed 3-wood) – 2024 Arnold Palmer Invitational
- Justin Rose testing Srixon Z Forged II irons – 2024 Arnold Palmer Invitational
See what GolfWRXers are saying in the forums.
- LIKE24
- LEGIT6
- WOW1
- LOL2
- IDHT0
- FLOP0
- OB0
- SHANK0
-
19th Hole4 days ago
John Daly stuns fans into silence with brutal opening tee shot on PGA Tour Champions
-
19th Hole1 week ago
2-time major champ announces shock retirement from the sport at age of 33
-
19th Hole1 week ago
Edoardo Molinari reveals the latest PGA Tour golfer to turn down ‘good offer’ from LIV Golf
-
19th Hole2 weeks ago
Scottie Scheffler had an interesting response when asked how he ‘quiets the noise’ following Players victory
-
Equipment2 weeks ago
Best driver 2024: The best driver for you, as recommend by expert club fitters
-
19th Hole1 week ago
Jon Rahm dealt fresh blow to hopes of qualifying for 2025 Ryder Cup
-
19th Hole4 days ago
Charlie Woods finds it tough going on American Junior Golf Association debut
-
19th Hole7 days ago
Why Kevin Streelman sought USGA approval to use this equipment tool as he leads Valspar after round one
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