Stenson to relax after big win

Henrik Stenson poses with the trophies
23 September 2013

Henrik Stenson will take a month off to reflect on his 11.4million US dollar payday in Atlanta before turning his attention to more European-based goals.

Stenson won the Tour Championship at East Lake on Sunday to also secure the FedEx Cup title, the Swede leading from start to finish to eventually win by three shots from Jordan Spieth and Steve Stricker.

The victory was his second in three events and lifted him back to a career high-equalling fourth in the world rankings, a position he last occupied following his victory in the Players Championship in May 2009.

That win came shortly after it emerged that he had lost a reported seven-figure sum in the Allen Stanford financial scandal, but with his financial future now more than secure, the 37-year-old can focus on finishing the year as European number one and qualifying for a third Ryder Cup appearance.

"That's obviously next on the horizon," said Stenson, who leads the European Tour's Race to Dubai and is virtually assured of a place on Paul McGinley's team for Gleneagles through the World Points List just a few weeks into the qualifying process. "Thankfully, I've got a whole month now I can rest and enjoy this incredible run that I've had.

"It's going to take a little time for this to sink in. I'm going to be busy, I know that much. Phone's going to go pretty hot, I think. Then I have some time to get back into some good practice before I head out to the BMW tournament in Shanghai on the 19th of October.

"I'm in a great position for winning the money title in Europe. Again, it's going to take some good play. I've got Justin (Rose) and Graeme (McDowell) chasing me down there. There might be another couple of guys by that time up there.

"It's going to take some good play but I'm going to try my hardest to accomplish that. No-one's won the FedEx and the Race to Dubai (although) Luke (Donald) and Rory (McIlroy) won both the money titles (in 2011 and 2012 respectively)."

Stenson played in the record-equalling nine-point victory in the Ryder Cup at the K Club in 2006, but was also on the losing side two years later at Valhalla.

"Being European, I've always tried to keep my membership back there, and we've got a Ryder Cup coming up as well," he added. "Of course, this win is going to help, together with the Deutsche Bank one, towards getting a spot on that team."

Stenson won his first European Tour title in 2001 but then went through the first of two career slumps, the second coming in 2011 and leaving him 230th in the Official World Golf Ranking at the start of last year.

Add in some serious health problems - one caused by a parasite picked up on holiday - and Stenson's form in 2013 is all the more remarkable, with a share of third place in the Aberdeen Asset Management Scottish Open followed up by runners-up finishes in The Open Championship and WGC-Bridgestone Invitational, third place in the US PGA Championship and victory in the Deutsche Bank Championship and Tour Championship.

"I think it says that I never give up," he added. "I went from way, way back down in 2001 and got back up to number four the week after my win at Sawgrass in 2009. So I'm obviously touching my personal best there. If I keep on playing well, I will have a chance, I guess, later on in the year to be able to improve on that.

"It's just been a great summer. I mean, way beyond what I could imagine. The play that I performed here since mid-July has been incredible. It's obviously the work that I'd done before. It wasn't like you wake up in the middle of July and you start playing fantastic. I put the work in in the spring. And once again, I want to thank my team because I owe them a big part of my success, and they're all working hard for me."

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