Henrik Stenson delivers big moment to win Hero challenge in Bahamas

NASSAU, Bahamas — Winless in more than two years, Henrik Stenson found himself in the middle of a wild chase to the finish on Saturday.

Five players had a chance to win in the final hour. One swing changed everything. “The shot of the day,” Stenson said.

He drilled a 5-wood from 259 yards to within inches of the hole for a tap-in eagle on the par-5 15th, going from a one-shot deficit to a one-shot lead. Three pars gave him a 6-under 66 and a victory in the Hero World Challenge.

Stenson tied for 44th two weeks ago in Dubai and spent a few hours on the range that afternoon with swing coach Pete Cowen. He carried some of that to the Bahamas, and his nerves held up at Albany Golf Club.

“Sometimes, just keep on working hard and grinding it out,” Stenson said. “Confidence can still be a little higher, but I’m really happy with the way I hung in.”

Woods fell out with a chip that didn’t make it up the slope on the 14th hole, and he had to scramble for bogey. Justin Thomas had a pair of 12-foot birdie putts burn the edge. Defending champion Jon Rahm appeared to seize control with a birdie-eagle-birdie stretch to take the lead on the 16th hole.

And then Stenson struck the decisive blow with his 5-wood. It bounced onto the green, tracked toward the hole and settled about eight inches away for eagle.

That took him from one shot behind to one shot ahead, and he closed with three pars.

Rahm had to settle for two pars to close out his 66.

Stenson won for the first time in 50 tournaments. His world ranking plunged from No. 6 to No. 40.

Patrick Reed, under scrutiny for improving his line of play in a waste area Friday that led to a twoshot penalty, shook that off for a 66 to finish alone in third.

Woods hasn’t won this event since 2011, and he put himself in position with timely birdies while playing alongside Thomas. It looked like quite a battle with Woods setting the pace early, and Thomas catching and passing him on the 11th hole.

But that was as good as it got for both of them. Woods closed with a 69. A double bogey by Thomas on the last hole, gave him a 70.

U.S. Open champion Gary Woodland, who started the final round with a one-shot lead, ran into trouble chipping up the slope on the par-5 third hole and made double bogey. He never recovered, shot 73 and tied for seventh.