Stenson finally over run of illness ahead of Nordea Masters

Sport360 staff 09:08 04/06/2015
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  • Ready to go: Stenson.

    World No 4 Henrik Stenson believes he is finally fit and healthy as he targets a first European Tour title on home soil to kickstart a strong second half of the season.

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    Stenson has struggled with numerous illnesses this year but hopes to reproduce his late-season form of 2013, when he was second in the Open and third in the US PGA Championship on his way to becoming the first player to win the Race to Dubai and FedEx Cup in the same year.

    “I got sick which set me back for about six weeks,” Ryder Cup star Stenson told a press conference ahead of the Nordea Masters.

    “First, I had proper man-flu which was horrible, then I got a vomiting bug that the kids had when we were at Augusta, so I came off one bad thing and straight into another one, then I had back-to-back colds.

    “At that point I felt like if anyone sneezed within 500 yards of me I was getting it because my immune system was so low and broken down.

    “But I’ve recovered and had a few good weeks in the gym, so I’m feeling healthy, but I’m playing catchup which is hard in the middle of the season. I’ll do the best I can and hopefully have a good second half of the year.”

    Stenson was fifth at the PGA Sweden National last year, narrowly missing out on the play-off between eventual winner Thongchai Jaidee and Ryder Cup team-mates Victor Dubuisson and Stephen Gallacher.

    He added: “It’s great to come back. I really received a warm welcome last year, there was so much support for me and all the other Swedish players. I didn’t have my best finish and ran out of steam a bit on the Sunday. I still had a chance on the 18th and needed to make a birdie to be in the play-off, but that didn’t happen. Hopefully, I can be there until the end this year.

    “I grew up watching the event outside the ropes, then in 1996 I played my first one as an amateur and I’ve been part of it for most years since. It’s important to come back and be an inspiration for the next generation hopefully and to support a Swedish event.”

    Stenson will partner Jaidee and Irish Open winner Soren Kjeldsen in the first two rounds.

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