Route 66 takes Stenson home

Stenson: Closing 66

Players Championship
Final leaderboard
US unless stated
-12 H Stenson (Swe)
-8 I Poulter (Eng)
-7 J Mallinger
-7 K Na
-6 J Furyk
-6 B Davis (Eng)
-6 B Crane
-5 T Woods

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Sweden's Henrik Stenson came from five shots back to win by four after an incredible final day at the Players Championship.

Stenson had been one of six men including world number one Tiger Woods and England's Ian Poulter to start the day in a tie for second place at six-under-par, five shots behind Alex Cejka of Germany.

But as Cejka imploded and Woods faltered in the final group of the day, Stenson shot a bogey-free six-under-par 66 to get to 12 under par and won by four.

He is just the third European winner in the tournament's 36-year history, following Sandy Lyle in 1987 and Sergio Garcia 12 months ago.

"It's obviously a great feeling to have won this championship and it's a golf course I really enjoy playing," Stenson said.

"I've always liked to play it, it suits my eye, suits my game, and I just handled myself very well throughout these four days, putted well and given myself plenty of chances and stayed very level-headed.

"I just managed my game very well. I knew it would be tough.

"Before we started yesterday I knew the greens were going to be even firmer and it was going to be hard to get close to the pins, and the course kind of got back at me yesterday on 16, 17.

Good spirits

"But I still felt like I was in good spirits and told whoever was out there after the round yesterday that I was going to go out there and finish strong today and I did."

Poulter finished second ahead of Americans John Mallinger and Kevin Na after just one bogey in a final round 70.

England's Brian Davis claimed a share of fifth place on six under alongside Americans Jim Furyk and Ben Crane, with Woods alone in eighth at five under following a 73, his first top-10 finish in the event since he won it in 2001.

Cejka finished in a tie for ninth after a 79.

"I think I actually played better than my score showed today," Cejka said. "I just didn't make any putts, one birdie only, but the ball-striking wasn't as good as the last couple of days."