Henrik Stenson targets first major success at St Andrews
Wednesday 15 July 2015 19:57, UK
Henrik Stenson remains hopeful he can become the first Swede to win a major but he insists it will not be the end of the world if he misses out.
The 39-year-old from Gothenburg has flirted with major success on several occasions, notably in the 2013 Open at Muirfield when he finished runner-up to American Phil Mickelson after briefly holding the lead for a few holes during the final round.
Stenson says time may be running out in his bid to cap his career with that elusive major, having also come close in 2013 and 2014 with third place finishes at the PGA Championship, but he will get another chance to break his duck at St Andrews this week in the 144th Open.
"I should have another four, five years at the top of my game, I hope, unless I manage to win this thing, then you're never guaranteed to be in them in the future,” said Stenson.
"It would be the icing on the cake, no question (to win a major).
"I still think I will go to sleep, I think, fairly happy even if it didn't happen, it's a bonus, and I'm trying hard to make it happen.”
The likes of Jesper Parnevik, Anders Forsbrand, Ove Sellberg and Magnus Persson have all failed to become Sweden’s first major winner, with Stenson emerging as the latest candidate bidding to end the country's barren spell.
"I would be very happy if I could win a major championship at some point, whether I'm the first Swede to do it, that's less important for me,” he said.
"I'm trying to make it happen for myself, that would be key. It would have a big impact back home and for Swedish golf, no two ways about it.
"And yeah, as a kid growing up, when I started following golf, it was the Ryder Cup and the Open Championship that I was watching, so yeah, this probably holds a little bit higher place in some of the golfing Europeans' hearts.”
