Posted August 21, 2017 in "Watts" In The Bag by Trevor Cigich
By: Ron Green Jr. of Global Golf Post
It was a surprise to some that Henrik Stenson added the Wyndham Championship to his schedule but he needed the event to assure himself fulfilling the mandatory 15-start rule to retain playing privileges for next season, given his 75th-place standing in the FedEx Cup race entering the week.
It turned out to be one of the best decisions of the year for Stenson, who won for the first time since the 2016 Open Championship. He opened with 62 on Thursday then tacked on rounds of 66-66-64, leading the field in proximity to the hole with his approach shots.
Two other notes of distinction for Stenson: It was his sixth Tour win, making him the winningest Swede, moving him ahead of Jesper Parnevik and Carl Peterson, who each won five times; and, he did not have a driver in his bag at Sedgefield Country Club, relying on his 3-wood instead.
“It was a very good decision,” Stenson said of his choice to keep his driver in his locker. “I’m delighted.”
When Stenson made the turn on Sunday, he was part of a crowd near the top of the leaderboard that included Rory Sabbatini and Ryan Armour, who made runs that briefly earned them a share of the lead. Gradually, though, Stenson and Schniederjans separated themselves.
Stenson grabbed the lead with a birdie at the par-4 13th then built a two-stroke advantage with birdies at the 15th, 16th and 17th holes. Thinking he had a two-stroke lead when he reached the 18th tee, Stenson realized Schniederjans had birdied the 72nd hole, forcing the Swede to save par from the right fringe on the final hole.
It was the best finish of Schniederjans’ young career and his fifth top-10 finish this season.
“It’s always nice to beat the 24-year-olds and the 34-year-olds and even the 46-year-olds,” Stenson said. “I’m certainly hungry to win golf tournaments. I showed that today.”
3 Wood: Callaway Diablo Octane Tour (13 degrees)
Shaft: Grafalloy Blue X-Flex
5 Wood: Callaway XR 16 Pro (18 degrees)
Shaft: Oban Kiyoshi Tour Limited 60 grams 05-Flex
Irons: Callaway Legacy Black (3-PW)
Shafts: Nippon N.S. Pro Modus3 Tour120 X-Flex
Wedges: Callaway Mack Daddy Forged (50 and 56 degrees), Callaway Mack Daddy PM Grind (60 degrees)
Shafts: Nippon N.S. Pro Modus3 Tour120 X-Flex
Putter: Odyssey White Hot XG #7H
Length: 34.25 inches
Loft: 3.25 degrees
Republished with permission by: Global Golf Post