Year in Review Countdown #8: Henrik Stenson Wins the Open

Henrik Stenson is world class golf player, and it could be argued that at the time he won the 2016 Open Championship, he was long overdue to win at least one major.

Indeed, Stenson had contended in a number of majors, including a runner up finish at the Open Championship in 2013, and several third place finishes in the Open and the PGA Championship.

When Stenson hits a ball, it just makes a different sound than when anyone else does. There is a thumping noise as if Stenson is knocking the earth off its axis with every strike. He hits the ball with incredible power and remarkable accuracy, so the real question is why this man hasn’t won a major in his 18 years as a pro.

Henrik Stenson of Sweden plays a shot on the 16th hole during the…

Henrik Stenson of Sweden plays a shot on the 16th hole during the final round of the Hero World Challenge at Albany course on December 4, 2016 in Nassau, Bahamas. Get premium, high resolution news photos at Getty Images

Well, as with many, many others, the answer lies in the perhaps the most unassuming, arguably the most difficult, and easily the most important part of the game: Putting.

Henrik Stenson of Sweden hits the winning putt during the final round…

Henrik Stenson of Sweden hits the winning putt during the final round on day four of the 145th Open Championship at Royal Troon on July 17, 2016 in Troon, Scotland. Henrik Stenson of Sweden finished… Get premium, high resolution news photos at Getty Images

Stenson struggles with the flat-stick and it has cost him tournaments and majors. Given the premium on putting at Augusta National, it’s not hard to figure out why Stenson has never finished in the top 10 at the Masters.

However, on July 17, Stenson was playing against one of the best putters to ever set foot on a golf course, five-time major champion, Phil Mickelson, and won.

It wasn’t easy, and the final round at Royal Troon is considered one of the best final round duels in history, on a level with the the 1977 “Duel in the Sun” between Jack Nicklaus and Tom Watson.

Stenson took a one-stroke lead into play on Sunday, but bogeyed the first hole while Mickelson made birdie. Stenson birdied the next three holes while Mickelson eagled the fourth to put them in a tie at 14-under.

Stenson took the lead again with a birdie on eight after both men had birdied the sixth. Both men birdied the 10th, but Stenson gave a stroke back on the 11th.

Tied on the 14th tee, Stenson would birdie every remaining hole except the 17th while Mickelson could manage only a single birdie in the same stretch, giving Stenson a three-stroke margin of victory.

Henrik Stenson of Sweden celebrates victory as he poses with the…

Henrik Stenson of Sweden celebrates victory as he poses with the Claret Jug on the the 18th green after the final round on day four of the 145th Open Championship at Royal Troon on July 17, 2016 in… Get premium, high resolution news photos at Getty Images

The win was the first for a Swedish man in a major and took the Ryder Cup stalwart off the list of “best never to have won a major.”

It also earned him the 8 spot in our countdown of golf news for the year.

Cover Image Via Instagram