Stenson plans changes to get his game back to best
SWEDE Henrik Stenson will make changes to his game after signing off his year as Open champion.
The 41-year-old shot a final-round 70 at Royal Birkdale to finish three under, nine shots behind his successor Jordan Spieth.
It has been a mixed week for Stenson, who handed back the Claret Jug on Monday, had his rented house burgled while he was out on the course in Thursday’s first round and then staged a weekend comeback to finish in a tie for 11th.
But the experience of being Open champion is one he has relished.
“It’s been great. The crowds have been amazing. The reception over the last couple of days, walking up basically to every green and down every fairway has been amazing,” he said.
“They certainly didn’t forget what we did last year so, for me, together with the Ryder Cup, it’s the best feeling to play golf in front of these fans and get their appreciation.
“There have been some highlights throughout the week, I’d say, and especially the way I played and putted yesterday.
“There’s certainly some positives to bring, even though I didn’t feel like overall I played my best, but I haven’t done that for a while.
“I’m going to enjoy the last week of summer back in Sweden and then I’m heading into Akron (WGCBridgstone Invitational) and I’ve got some work to do there as I’m changing my set-up with irons and wedges.
“I’m going to four wedges. I only tried it briefly once before, but I feel like I want to give it a proper go and it’s obviously going to give me a little bigger gaps between the other irons, so I’ve got some work to do on the TrackMan there.
“So it’s going to be a week of trying to get into that before the (US) PGA. It’s a work in progress.”