Swede success
Last updated: 1st February 2008
Stenson: talking to Golf Night
It was special playing with Ernie for four rounds and I was able to beat him by one so obviously it adds extra spice when you have both Ernie and Tiger in the tournament.
Henrik Stenson
Quotes of the week
The Dubai Desert Classic defending champion and now Dubai resident, Henrik Stenson spoke to Golf Night about his memories on the 18th in the final round, plus his Ryder Cup experience in 2006.
The Swede was locked in a battle with Ernie Els during last year's tournament but he held his nerve to sneak home by one with a coolly taken birdie on the last.
"It was a really tough last day," said Stenson, "there was sand in the air and heavy winds which was good for me as my putting wasn't the best and it gave me a bit of a better chance."
"And I came through with four birdies on the back nine."
It was the first time the 31-year-old had won with Tiger Woods in the field which made his win even sweeter.
"It was special playing with Ernie for four rounds and I was able to beat him by one so obviously it adds extra spice when you have both Ernie and Tiger in the tournament.
"I had already chased Tiger Woods pretty hard and I just came up one shot ahead going into the last and I knew I needed to make a birdie.
"It was quite a delight when I made that 10-footer up at the last.
"I was hitting 3 wood (from the tee) all week and I did again on the last day and the wind turned a little bit.
"It was probably a 'go for it' when I stood on the fairway but then the group ahead were still putting so and there was a bit of a wind switch and it felt a little bit too long.
"So I laid up and just had a great pitch in to about 10 feet short of the hole and then made the putt!"
Ryder Cup
One of Stenson's childhood dreams was to play in the Ryder Cup. He achieved that in 2006 when he was part of the victorious Europe side at the K Club and Stenson says it was everything he expected it to be and more.
"It was just a fantastic week and I'm trying pretty hard at the moment to get some points up to be in for the next one.
"I was probably a little less nervous than I expected to be, I guess that comes down to being focussed on the game and being able to block out all that goes on around you.
And on his putt that clinched the Ryder Cup?
"It was a good fun thing to have in the history books I guess, but overall it was so nice to be part of the whole thing and that the team did so well.
"We would have won with or without my putt so it's just something that happened really."
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