Defending champ Henrik was determined not to turn up in his boxer shorts
HENRIK STENSON’S home for the week was burgled on day one of The Open.
But the thieves who targeted the Swedish star have not robbed him of the chance to retain the Claret Jug.
Defending champion Stenson shot 65 yesterday to move to threeunder-par going into today’s final round at Royal Birkdale.
His steely performance provided proof he has put Thursday’s disturbing incident at his rented house on Merseyside behind him.
It took a few days to get back into the swing of things.
But despite losing clothes, cash, bank cards, electrical items and watches in the break-in, Stenson – who famously stripped to his underwear to play a shot out of a water hazard in 2009 – has managed to retain his sense of humour.
“It’s obviously not a nice
incident, or anything you want to go through,” he said. “But it’s more a hassle. “I didn’t want to tee it up like I looked in Florida a few years ago.
“Standing in my boxer shorts on the first tee would have been so-so!
“I had to get everything organised, get my clothes fixed and back ready to play golf – it’s some sort of disturbance.
“Instead of relaxing after that first round, chilling out watching a movie, we had to do other things.
“It wasn’t great, but I’m glad to inform you I haven’t lost anything in the last two days, so things are pretty good at the moment.”
Stenson’s five-under-par showing contributed to his positive outlook. But it also gave him an outside shot at a second consecutive Open Championship title.
“We’ll see. I’m just happy with the way I played,” he said.
“I should move up the result list and hopefully get closer to the leaders.
“We’ll just have to sit back and watch.”
Meanwhile, Dustin Johnson dragged himself up the leaderboard with a stunning 64.
The world No. 1 looked on course to equal – or better – Branden Grace’s record 62 after a birdie on 15, only to miss chances on 16 and 17 to close in.
The American superstar contented himself with a sixunder-par round that boosted his final day hopes.
But from a starting position of three-under, he believes today will need to be another for the history books to claim victory.
“You never know what’s going to happen,” he said. “But I’m going to need to shoot probably nineunder, I would imagine.
“To get to 12-under – I think that would be a decent number to sit in the clubhouse at. I’m just going to go out tomorrow and play as good as I can and try to post another good score.”