Stenson out to make amends at Bay Hill for ‘tough loss’ in 2015
Henrik Stenson hopes to make amends for one of the toughest losses of his career in a week when golf will mark the loss of one of its most influential figures.
Stenson held the outright lead with four holes to play in the Arnold Palmer Invitational in 2015, but three-putted the 15th for a bogey and did the same for par on the 16th after finding the green in two.
American Matt Every took full advantage with a birdie on the 18th to become the third player to stage a successful title defence in a tournament started by Palmer in 1979.
This year’s event is the first since Palmer died in September at the age of 87 and numerous tributes are being made to the seven-time major winner at Bay Hill Club and Lodge.
A 14-foot bronze statue of Palmer was unveiled at the course on Saturday, while a number of players have the tournament’s “umbrella” logo on his bag for the week.
Orlando resident Stenson, who followed in Palmer’s footsteps by winning the Open Championship at Royal Troon last year, would love to mark the occasion by lifting the trophy on Sunday. “It’s nice to be back home, get a week with family and get the extra local support,” said the world No 5, who has finished in the top 15 in each of his last five starts at Bay Hill.
“There’s no question it was one of the tougher losses that I had in 2015 when I didn’t manage to win here, despite having a great opportunity. That’s the way it goes sometimes, but I hope I can make up for it and I win this tournament in the near future.
“I think it’s always easier to leave a loss behind you when someone else makes a long putt or makes a birdie on the last hole or something like that. But if you three-putt from 15 feet up the hill, you’re not going to leave feeling too good about yourself.”
The Claret Jug is on display at Bay Hill this week and the R&A has commissioned two commemorative Champions’ medals of his victories in 1961 and 1962 and a special players’ badge which it will present to the Arnie’s Army Charitable Foundation later this year.
Although world No 1 Dustin Johnson is not competing, four of the world’s top five and 14 of the top 25 help make up a strong field, which includes defending champion Jason Day and Rory Mcilroy.