Stenson triumphs by tightest of margins to end long wait for a title
HENRIK STENSON ended a two-year title drought with a one-shot victory in the Hero World Challenge.
The former Open champion from Sweden had not won an event since capturing the Wyndham Championship in August 2017, but shot a closing 66 to finish on 18 under par in the Bahamas.
That was one ahead of Spain’s Jon Rahm, the defending champion in the 18-man event which raises funds for the Tiger Woods Foundation.
Stenson had three birdies in his first eight holes but then dropped a shot at the par-five ninth.
Lengthy gains at the 10th and 13th followed and Stenson effectively sealed the title with a brilliant five-wood approach to the 15th that set up an eagle.
‘I found some good momentum and sometimes it’s just keep on working hard and grinding it out,’ Stenson told Sky Sports. ‘I made some crucial par saves on the back nine.
‘I’m pleased with the way I finished on the back nine today.’
Rahm stormed home with birdies at the 14th and 16th sandwiching an eagle at the 15th in a closing 66.
American Patrick Reed, who was embroiled in controversy on Friday after being handed a twoshot penalty for improving his lie in a bunker, shot a 66 – including a birdie on the 11th where his misdemeanour occurred 24 hours earlier – to finish third on 16 under, ending two shots behind Stenson.
Tournament host Woods threatened to challenge for a sixth win in this event when he carded four birdies in his first 11 holes, but he bogeyed the 14th and made no further gains to finish fourth on 14 under after a 69.
Overnight leader Gary Woodland could only manage a one-over-par 73 as he finished tied for seventh, with England’s Justin Rose and Justin Thomas sharing fifth.