Henrik Stenson: The Lasting Legacy of Open Glory

This Chronicles Unseen long-form article can be viewed in full on the oneclub.golf website. Enjoy a teaser below.

When Henrik Stenson holed a lengthy birdie putt on the 72nd hole at Royal Troon to complete victory in The 145th Open, it was immediately apparent he had achieved something truly special.

The popular Swede had not only secured a long-awaited maiden major title, 15 years after first appearing in The Open. He had done so in record-breaking fashion, shooting 63 in the final round and posting the lowest aggregate score in major history with a 20-under total of 264.

Throw in the fact that Stenson’s win was sealed after an epic duel with Phil Mickelson, who ended the Championship 11 strokes clear of third-placed JB Holmes, and it was evident this was an Open that would live long in the memory.

However, while a fist-pumping Stenson could instantly celebrate on the 18th green, the magnitude of his victory would become much clearer in the hours, days, weeks and months that followed.

As he gradually came to terms with the fact he was now a Champion Golfer, Stenson was able to take more and more pleasure from the greatest achievement of his illustrious career.

For a Champion, the hours after any major win can best be described as hectic.

“All the people that text you five minutes afterwards and ask if you can talk, they’re not quite on the page with what’s going on,” Stenson explains with his customary dry humour.

“I think it was almost three hours after I holed out before I actually got to leave the golf course.

“It’s the presentation, the press conference, the official photos, pictures with my wife and caddie and parts of the team and friends that were there. It’s (interviews with the) BBC, it’s R&A, it’s Troon Golf Club, Swedish television, Golf Channel. You’re running around like a headless chicken basically for three hours afterwards.”

The flurry of congratulatory interviews and positive media attention certainly hammered home the impact of Stenson’s victory.

“It’s fantastic – you get all the appreciation,” he added. “I was over the moon, but to see so many people happy on my behalf was certainly a very nice feeling.”

Upon leaving Royal Troon, Stenson soon received a further reminder of why his triumph was so significant.

Success in The Open represented a momentous personal breakthrough, but also a first major triumph by a Swedish male.