Friday 12 August 2016 23:49, UK
Henrik Stenson reflected on an entertaining first few holes of his second round at the Olympic Games as Justin Rose described him as "the man to beat" in Rio.
Stenson will go into the weekend just two strokes behind halfway leader Marcus Fraser after the Swede fired an erratic 68 which included two monster putts over the first three holes.
The Open champion opened with a birdie and then sank a putt of close to 60 feet for another at the second, but he looked certain to undo his excellent early work when both he and playing partner Rafael Cabrera-Bello pulled their tee-shots into the water at the third.
But while the Spaniard ran up a triple-bogey seven, Stenson saved par in spectacular style when he laced a four-wood to the front edge of the green and drained an incredible putt from 108 feet.
"It was an interesting start and an interesting finish, just a bit of ordinary golf in the middle," said Stenson, who mixed three birdies with two bogeys over the last five holes to close on eight under.
"It was tough teeing off in the wind and rain and we probably got three of the toughest holes in those conditions right at the start. Driver went maybe 250 yards on the tee shot on the second, I hit a four wood from 220 that pitched pin high and released over the back and holed from 50 feet for birdie.
"On the third both Rafa and I drove into the water but I managed to tickle a four-wood up onto the front part of the green. You are just standing there praying for a two-putt bogey and before I know it that thing found the bottom of the cup.
"It's the longest putt I've made in my career. First of all it's hard to get a putt that long on any green in the world; maybe on the double greens at St Andrews you can find one."
Rose carded a steady three-birdie 69 to remain four shots behind Fraser, and the Team GB star reckons Stenson will be hard to match if the Swede produces a similar performance to the one which carried him to his maiden major title at The Open last month.
"I feel like I have another gear or two to try and find so it would be nice if it all clicks into shape when you need it," said Rose. "Henrik is the man to beat I reckon. He's in good shape, he's ice cool and we all know when he gets into a rhythm like we saw at Troon he's a pretty special player."
Meanwhile, Ireland's Seamus Power surged into the top 10 after returning a 67, but the confident 29-year-old insisted he was not surprised to be in medal contention.
"I expected to be in a decent position over the weekend so with another couple of good rounds, who knows?" said Power, the world No 295. "Just to be up there with your country's colours on, there's nothing you can think of that would make you more proud. You have the whole country behind you.
"Other people are probably more surprised than I am. It's only golf, it's not like the other sports - if you play well you're going to have a shot."
