In the Bag 2013 with Henrik Stenson

At the start of 2012, Swedish golfing star Henrik Stenson was in danger of losing his way as a professional golfer. The 2009 Players Championship winner had seen his ranking plummet from 4th in the world in 2009 to 230th just two and a half years later and he knew that the next couple of years would probably define him as a golfer.

Since then Stenson has transformed himself into a genuine top ten player, one who is in the form of his life, as emphasised by his win at the 2013 Deutsche Bank Championship in Boston.

FACTFILE:

Player Name: Henrik Stenson

Place of Birth: Gothenburg, Sweden

Age: 37

Club Sponsor: None – though Stenson is sponsored by Piretti Putters and has his own putter range with the company.

Major Wins (0) :  US Masters (0), US Open (0), Open Championship (0), USPGA Championship (0) – Stenson however did finish 2nd in the British Open and 3rd in the US Open in 2013.

Other Tournament Wins : 14

Current World Ranking: 6th

In The Bag with Henrik Stenson 2013

Driver: Taylor Made R1 Driver

Fairway Woods: Callaway Diablo Octane Tour 3-wood, Callaway X Hot Pro Fairway Wood (5-wood)

Hybrids - None

Irons: Callaway Legacy Black Irons

Wedges: Cleveland 588 RTX Wedges

Putter: Piretti Henrik Stenson Cottonwood 2 Putter

Ball: Titleist Pro V1x

Career Highlights:

Stenson has already achieved many highlights in his career even without securing a Major. He has won the next best thing according to the players, when winning The Players Championship in 2009, dubbed the Fifth Major.

Stenson has also achieved success in two  other huge events, the 2007 WGC Accenture Match Play and most recently the 2013 Deutsche Bank Championship.

He has also won seven times on the European Tour, most notably winning the Dubai Desert Classic in February 2007, the BMW International Open in 2006 and his first title at the 2001 Benson & Hedges International Open.

Career Lowpoints:

One of the biggest disappointments for Stenson came at the 2012 Masters when after a sensational 6-under round, he reached the 18th hole and then suffered a quadruple bogey 8 on the par four, a move which effectively put him out of contention.

However, the lowest point for the Swede did not come in a single event, but over a 30 month period from 2009 through to the start of 2012. During this period following reaching number 4 in the world, Stenson lost his form dramatically, falling to a staggering 230th in the world.

Fortunately since then, the likeable Swede has recovered and has once again reached the World’s top 10.

What does the future hold for Henrik Stenson?

Without doubt, a Major title is beckoning for Stenson, although his immediate future may be dominated by winning the $10m on offer for victory in the FedEx Cup. He leads this event at the moment, just ahead of Tiger Woods.

Beyond this season ending money-fest, Stenson’s big aims will be twofold, first will be to secure a major. The Swede has been in serious contention in two of the last three Majors and he will no doubt be looking to break that duck in the 2014 season.

The other big aim, which he should readily achieve, is to return to the Ryder Cup fold. Given his form during the year and his current World Ranking, Stenson should be a nailed on certainty for Paul McGinley’s team to face America at Gleneagles in 2014.

(Pictures courtesy of Henrik Stenson Facebook Page