Henrik Stenson focused for finale

Henrik Stenson knows he needs to produce his best form if he is to become the third golfer – and third in a row – to win the money list on both sides of the Atlantic in the same season.

Stenson is seeking to emulate Luke Donald and Rory McIlroy who managed the feats in 2011 and 2012 respectively. However, with two events to go, he has seen his lead at the top of the European Tour’s Race To Dubai cut considerably by the fine performances of Graeme McDowell, Justin Rose and Ian Poulter in last week’s WGC-HSBC Champions Tournament in Shanghai.

As a result, the Swede knows he needs to rediscover his best form after two recent sluggish finishes if he is to top the standings, starting at this week’s Turkish Airlines Open.

“I’ve had eight rounds now competitive in the last two weeks, and three of them have been really, really good,” said Henrik Stenson. “It was just the putting the first two days last week that really let me down and I played well at the weekend.

“I put one good round together the first week in China, two the second, so hopefully three here and four next week in Dubai. I hope I’m heading in the right direction.

“I always felt like it was going to be a tight race” – Henrik Stenson

“Hopefully, I can be a bit quicker out of the blocks this time and have a good week.”

Regardless of his performance over the Montgomerie Maxx Royal course in Antalya this week, Henrik Stenson is expecting the outcome of the Final Series to go right to the wire.

“I always felt like it was going to be a tight race and someone was going to play well from the guys who were chasing me if I didn’t get it going,” he said.

“It’s kind of working out the way I thought it would do at this point, and now, there are two weeks left, and Graeme is not playing this week, but it’s going to come down to what happens the last week in Dubai, I’m pretty sure of that.”

Henrik Stenson: Season in focus

A quick glance at Henrik Stenson’s season to date.

European Tour

Wins – 0

Top 3 – 4

Money – €2,203,260

PGA Tour

Wins – 2

Top 3 – 6

Money – $6,388,230

Michael McEwan is the Deputy Editor of bunkered and has been part of the team since 2004. In that time, he has interviewed almost every major figure within the sport, from Jack Nicklaus, to Rory McIlroy, to Donald Trump. The host of the multi award-winning bunkered Podcast and a member of Balfron Golfing Society, Michael is the author of three books and is the 2023 PPA Scotland 'Writer of the Year' and 'Columnist of the Year'. Dislikes white belts, yellow balls and iron headcovers. Likes being drawn out of the media ballot to play Augusta National.

Deputy Editor