US Open: Henrik Stenson enjoying stiff competition in golf
By Keith Jackson
Last Updated: 13/06/17 7:43pm
Henrik Stenson would not be surprised to see the trend of maiden major champions continue at this week's US Open.
Sergio Garcia became the sixth consecutive first-time major champion at the Masters in April, while Stenson also collected his first with his record-breaking victory at The Open last season.
The Swede believes the trend demonstrates the increasing strength in depth in golf, and insists the competition is good for the future of the sport.
"I think the competition on a weekly basis is so tight out there and so tough," said Stenson at his pre-tournament press conference at Erin Hills. "There are so many players in the field that can win.
"Whether it's a trend or if this is going to continue or not, or if there is going to be a few guys stepping up and becoming second and third-time winners short of them having more first timers, I guess that's yet to see.
"But I think in general it's very hard to predict who is going to do well any other week. It's been like that in the last year and a half in the majors, for sure."
When asked if the run of first-time winners had inspired other players without a major to take their games to a higher level, Stenson replied: "There could be something in that. A lot of times you see that, if I go back to Sweden, I'm sure that success is kind of pushing on more success, and we've seen that within countries, for sure.
"That might be the case as well that you say, 'okay, he won his first major, why shouldn't I win mine?' Although that was not something that was kind of in my mind when I played at Troon last year or in the lead up to that."
Stenson also agreed with Ryder Cup team-mate and 2013 US Open champion Justin Rose that patience is the key to success in the second major of the year.
"Patience and par is always a good score," he added. "No matter how easy a hole might seem, stress-free pars are always going to be good in a US Open, and patience. You've got to take the hits. There will be times when you want to get mad and it's going to get to you, but you've just got to stay focused and press on.
"It's going to be the same for everyone. That's why you've got to have a fresh head and be able to keep your patience this week."
