Henrik

Stenson

Henrik Stenson was born in Gothenburg, Sweden, in 1976. When he was 12, he had his first golf lesson at a local club – and three years later, he was playing off a handicap of five.

By the age of 18, he was a scratch golfer playing in amateur tournaments. Called up by his country, he featured in the European Boys’ Team Championship in 1994, and two years later won the Italian amateur matchplay title.

In 1998, he played eight times as an amateur on the professional Telia Tour in Sweden, and recorded five top-10 finishes. By the end of that year, he had turned professional.

Over the next two years, he rose steadily through the rankings of the Challenge Tour, the feeder series to the main European Tour; and in 2001 he joined the continent’s top-level tour full time.

It wasn’t long before Henrik Stenson recorded the first European Tour win of his career.

That came at the Benson & Hedges International Open, and was a springboard for further progress up the professional rankings.

From 2005 onwards, Stenson was a regular presence in the top 10 of the European Tour Order of Merit, and in early 2007 he won the WGC-Accenture Match Play Championship.

That sent him soaring to No. 5 in the world rankings, and over the next three years he spent more than 100 weeks in the top 10.

In May 2009, Stenson won a strokeplay event on U.S. soil for the first time, as he took The Players Championship – finishing four shots clear of his future Majesticks GC co-captain Ian Poulter.

Stenson’s success had always been based on his superb, consistent golf swing, and he was always especially accurate with his long irons.

He contended strongly at the majors in 2013, none more so than the Masters, when he dueled throughout the final round with Phil Mickelson before finishing three shots behind the American. It was a taste of things to come for that particular duo.

By the end of that season, he was ranked first on the PGA Tour for ball-striking and greens in regulation, and he had won the DP World Tour Championship in Dubai. He was the winner of both the Race to Dubai and the FedExCup – a rare and prestigious double.

Over the next couple of years, Henrik Stenson competed consistently at the very highest level. He reached his best world ranking, No. 2, in May 2014, and in that year finished in the top five at both the U.S. Open and the PGA Championship.

In 2016, just after his 40th birthday, he clinched the major title that he had been promising for many years – and his triumph came in famous circumstances at Troon, one of the great Scottish courses to host The Open.

At the halfway point, Stenson was locked at the top of the leaderboard with his old rival Phil Mickelson. Over the next two days, they staged a shootout that became known as “High Troon”, and invited comparisons with the legendary 1977 “Duel in the Sun” between Jack Nicklaus and Tom Watson.

Stenson shot a 68 in the third round to move a single shot ahead of Mickelson, and that set up an unforgettable Sunday showdown between the pair.

Stenson later said: “Going up against a world-class player like Phil, I knew he was never going to back down. I think that helped the way I dealt with the challenge mentally, in that I knew I just had to go out and go after it.

“I knew I could not tiptoe around and hope that Phil would shoot 73 in the final round – that was never going to happen. In the end it became a bit of a classic duel, in terms of the two of us trading punches all the way around the golf course.”

Mickelson took an early lead, but Stenson hit back with five birdies on the front nine. They were level again with five to play, before the Swede reeled off three consecutive birdies. He finished with another at the 18th to seal a round of 63, the first man since Johnny Miller, at the 1973 U.S. Open, to secure a major victory with such a low score.

Mickelson finished three shots back despite a final round of 65, and Stenson added: “Phil was a little shocked by the outcome, which is understandable. He said it was the first time in his career that he had played that well yet not walked away with the trophy.”

Nicklaus said after the tournament: “Phil Mickelson played one of the best rounds I have ever seen played in The Open, but Henrik Stenson just played better. He played one of the greatest rounds I have ever seen.

“He drove the ball well; his iron game was great; his short game was wonderful; and his putting was great. Henrik was simply terrific.” 

Victory at Troon made Henrik Stenson the first male Swede – indeed the first Scandinavian man – to win a major championship. 

But it was not the only international stage on which The Iceman would star.

Ever since the rise of Swedish golf in the early 1990s, a host of superb golfers from that country have represented Europe in the Ryder Cup. None, however, can match Stenson’s record in the event.

Stenson was a member of five European teams, and three times he finished on the winning side. He made his debut at The K Club in Ireland in 2006, and capped a stellar display by holing the putt that clinched the trophy as he beat Vaughn Taylor in the singles.

He contributed strongly with three points on his next victorious appearance in 2014, and enjoyed a 3-0-0 record as Europe won again in 2018. Stenson formed a formidable foursomes partnership in France with Justin Rose, then beat Bubba Watson in the singles as Europe won by seven points.

The Swede teed off in his first LIV Golf event, at Bedminster in July 2022, and took the individual prize. Rounds of 64, 69 and 69 gave him an 11-under total of 202 that put him two shots ahead of Dustin Johnson and Matthew Wolff. “It was intense but a great week for me,” Stenson said later.

Looking back on his move to LIV Golf, Stenson said: “I’m happy with the decision I made and have no regrets. After 20 years of competing on the DP World Tour, there were some weeks where that extra buzz wasn’t necessarily there.

“With LIV, it feels like something new and fresh… Playing two tours like I’ve done for the most part of my career had kind of taken its toll. Not having a proper offseason like in other sports is tough. That’s something I’ve missed for many years.

“Some of my fondest memories have come from playing team events, like World Cups and Ryder Cups… That certainly brings an extra bit of motivation.”

Along with Ian Poulter and Lee Westwood, Stenson is one of the three co-captains of Majesticks GC, an unusual but successful structure. The three share the burden of leadership and, Stenson said: “There are never any heated discussions… we’re all heading in the same direction.”

Henrik Stenson’s own website lists the many people whose work helps to keep him competitive at the highest level of professional golf.

As well as caddie Gareth Lord, Team Stenson includes swing coach Mike Walker, putting coach Phil Kenyon, mental coach Torsten Hansson, and physio Dan Salmonsson. 

Kenyon said: “Henrik is a great guy to work with. He is hard-working, conscientious and will challenge you as a coach. Better still he is a great guy, always fun to be around and a great friend to have.”

Since December 2006, Stenson has been married to Emma Lofgren. The pair met when she was on the golf team at the University of South Carolina. They have three children and live in Lake Nona, Florida.

There are so many layers to Henrik Stenson on the course. He is co-captain of Majesticks GC, a Major winner, an Olympic silver medallist in 2016, and a winner – in partnership with Robert Karlsson – of the World Cup in 2008. Off the course, Stenson has a similarly wide variety of business interests and partners.

He runs Henrik Stenson Golf Design, and said: “My design philosophy is to create unique, memorable golf courses all over the world that harmonize with the natural environment and will be enjoyed by golfers for decades to come.”

He is also the driving force behind Henrik Stenson Eyewear, which produces a range of sunglasses designed specifically for golfers of all standards.

As well as Callaway and Titleist, Stenson has an on-course agreement with ECCO Golf, which supplies his golf shoes. He also has a tie-up with private air travel firm SpeedBird.