Big-time Stenson ready to be patient

Henrik Stenson is having a tough time explaining to the world why he is carding average results in normal Tour events, despite fantastic shows in the Majors and other big events recently.

In the past year, the Dubai-based Swede has finished tied third at the 2008 Open Championship, tied fourth at the 2008 PGA Championship and ninth at this year's US Open, apart from winning the Players Championship, considered by many as the 'fifth Major', with a sensational final-round 66. Not to forget, he also won a million-dollar cheque at the Nedbank Challenge in Sun City towards the end of the season and the World Cup of Golf.

But after the Players' triumph at the demanding TPC Sawgrass, he missed three cuts in a row and following the PGA Championship last year, he missed two cuts in the next three starts.

As the world No8 gets ready for yet another shot at Major glory in the ongoing Open Championship at the spectacular Ailsa course at Turnberry, he took great pains in explaining to the media that while he has made a determined effort to concentrate on the big events, it's natural he suffered a bit during other weeks.

It wasn't that he was doing this deliberately, he said, but just that it came naturally.

Stenson, who opened the 138th Open Championship with a round of one-over par 71, said: "Definitely, it's the big championships that we want to be at our best. And to a small degree that might influence the performances in some general tournaments at times. Especially, if you're not playing great, it can be harder to pull yourself out of 45th [place] and get going after two or three rounds in a regular event.

"But that's something I try to improve on. It will be more the case of not playing too many tournaments so that you're actually up for the task every time you play. Sometimes when we play a number of tournaments in a row, when you've got a tough travelling schedule and a lot of commitments, it does take its toll on the game."

The ninth place at this year's US Open was significant because Stenson later said his game was in a poor shape from tee to green, and the only way he could put up the score was because of the way he kept fighting and being mentally strong. On top of it, he was caught in the worst half of the draw and had to play almost his entire first 36 holes in driving rain and wind.

"I think what I did at the US Open – in terms of battle and patience and just hanging in there – obviously those are great things to bring with me here.

"And if I could do the same and play a bit better, I hope I will be up there and contend by Sunday. But those are great things to bring with me, and those are definitely important attributes to have if you want to win big championships," he added.

As part of his efforts to get his game back in the groove, Stenson has camped up at Turnberry since the middle of last week and spent hours playing the course and working with his coach Pete Cowen.

And he thinks if everything goes well, he should be in contention again towards the end of the week.

He said: "It's my first trip to Turnberry, and my schedule gave me two weeks off leading up to it. I've been here since Thursday, so I've had plenty of time to prepare and get a good look at the course.

"It was a good chance to get in some extra rounds, catch up with my coach and do a little bit of extra work. So I'm as well prepared as I can be and I think heading towards a good week."

Stenson is playing at Turnberry for the first time, and it has been a case of love at first sight for him.

"It's just a beautiful course in good condition and a very scenic place. It's going to be good fun to play it. It's all going to be down to putting myself in a good position if I'm going to have a chance to win," said the 2007 Dubai Desert Classic champion.

"The course seems to fit my eyes. On most of the holes, you can see where you want to go, and I normally like that. It's a good course. It's fair and square and in good condition.

"There are a few holes where you feel like you want to be a bit more aggressive and a few you want to hang back a little bit. And I've obviously spent a lot of time on this and how to attack the greens and pin positions and so on. You've definitely got to think on more holes than one and I normally like it when you have to put a bit of thought into your shots."

Apart from his preparations, Stenson feels another reason he should be doing well this week is his love for links golf.

"I like the challenge of it," said Stenson. "You need to have a lot of different shots in your repertoire, and I'd think I have a fair bit of that. But it's different than playing target golf – if it's soft greens and 140 to the pin and you hit 140, you're going to have a short birdie putt.

"In links golf, it's going to be a little bit more, it can bounce three yards one time, and seven yards another time; you don't really know.

"It requires a bit more patience, and I think I've got the patience it takes, as well, so I should be all right."

Stenson also dismissed the media build-up of "superhuman" Tiger Woods as the firm favourite and someone who intimidates and frightens his fellow competitors with his on-course dominance.

"I've seen him play ping-pong, believe me, he's not superhuman," joked Stenson. "I mean, there have been times when he was definitely considered to be unbeatable. And if enough people consider it that way, it's going to be harder to beat him.

"There have been times when he's been one- or two-up on the first tee for sure, but I think after a while, other players get over that and manage to win tournaments when he is in the field.

"So he is going to be one of the names to watch out for every time, but he is also definitely beatable."

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