Henrik Stenson Is Swinging His Way to a Career Year

At age 40, Henrik Stenson has put together the best year of his career and is finally at the top of his game.

If it wasn’t already, Sunday’s silver medal at the Olympic Games cemented 2016 as Henrik Stenson’s career year.

The Swede has been the hottest golfer in the world as of late, riding his now famed three-wood to victory. He captured his first career major, won a silver medal at the Olympics, and added a European tour win to his resumé.

Although the year’s final major has passed, there is still plenty of important golf left for him, and many more chances for him to add to his already impressive year.

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It’s been 18 years since he became a professional golfer in 1998, but this year was the year Stenson finally won his first major. The 2016 Open Championship at Royal Troon was where he made it happen. In a thrilling Sunday finish, Stenson and Phil Mickelson battled each other as they blew away the rest of the field. Nearing the end, the two golfers were almost ten strokes away from the rest of the field.

The only obstacle in the path of each man as they aimed to take the title of Champion Golfer of the Year was the other. In the end, Stenson used birdies on the 14th, 15th, 16th, and 18th to bring home the Claret Jug.

Similarly, Stenson was in the final group in the final round at the 2016 Olympics in Rio. This time he was battling Justin Rose for the gold medal. The two headed into the final hole tied up. Unfortunately for Stenson, he wasn’t able to win the duel.

Despite not getting the gold medal, he still received the silver medal. Certainly nothing to scoff at as many of the world’s top athletes come to Olympics every four years but only the best leave with a medal. Stenson has earned the honor of being a part of the group.

In addition, the week after he withdrew from the U.S. Open, he returned to action in the European Tour by partaking in the BMW International Open. He surged up the leaderboard in the second and third round by posting a seven-under 65 in the second round and then a five-under 67 in the third round.

(Photo by Ross Kinnaird/R /

As a result, he entered the final day on top of the leaderboard, ahead by just one stroke. In the final round, Stenson cooled off by shooting a one-under 71. Fortunately for him, the rest of the field struggled to make up ground on him and he was able to hold them off. In the end, he would win by three strokes to take the BMW International Open crown.

With his first major, an Olympic silver medal, and a European tour win in the books (he now has 11 of those in total), Stenson will be hoping to finish strong.

Similarly to the Olympics, he will again have the chance to play in an international event. Stenson is currently qualified to represent Europe in the Ryder Cup.

Furthermore, the culmination of the FedEx Cup comes at the Tour Championship scheduled to take place at East Lake Golf Club. Last year, Stenson finished in a tie for second at the Tour Championship and was alone in second place for the FedEx Cup, having previously won the PGA Tour playoffs in 2013. Similarly to the FedEx Cup, the European Tour hosts the Race to Dubai. This is similar in the sense that points are accrued throughout the season on the European Tour. Currently, Stenson is sitting alone in second place behind Danny Willett. Stenson also won the 2013 Race to Dubai.

With 2016 already cemented as a career year for him, only one question remains: what more will Henrik Stenson add to his resume in 2016?

Next: Wyndham Championship Top 10 Power Rankings

One thing is for sure, If he goes on to be the star performer of the next couple of months, there won’t be many left surprised.

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