BEDMINSTER, New Jersey – A far-left golf journo dragged his family’s name through the mud. The DP World Tour fired him as Ryder Cup captain. A smug tour player, who couldn’t hold his jockstrap, trolled him on Twitter. And even a washed-up former teammate with a world ranking in the mid triple digits attempted to dunk on him.
In the end, though, it was Henrik Stenson, the soft-spoken Swede, who got the last laugh as he exited Trump National in Bedminster, New Jersey with a check for $4.35 million, after winning in his debut on the LIV Golf Invitational.
After tapping in for his second-straight round of 69 to finish 11 under and claim a two-stroke victory over Americans Dustin Johnson (68) and Matt Wolff (64), Stenson was asked if the victory proved he’d made the right decision to join LIV Golf.
“Yeah, I guess we can agree I played like a captain,” Stenson told LIV Golf’s Dom Boulet. “It’s been a good first week, nice to be here with the guys and get a feel for it.
“It’s been a busy 10 days and I’m extremely proud to focus the way I did having not been in contention for a number of years.”
Stenson led by three shots heading into the final round and he remained out in front all day thanks to birdies at the 1st, 5th and 14th.
He dropped a shot at the par-5 15th to give hope to the chasing pack, but he lived up to his Ice Man nickname and held on for the win.
It marks Stenson’s first win around the world since landing the 2019 Hero World Challenge presented by Tiger Woods. Stenson’s last win on the PGA Tour came at the 2017 Wyndham Championship.
Stenson wins $4 million for taking the individual honors at LIV Golf Bedminster, and he then picks up an additional $375,000 for his Majesticks team finishing second in the team event. That stacks up to a cool total of $4.375 million for just three days work.
The team event was won by 4Aces – comprising Johnson, Pat Perez, Talor Gooch and Patrick Reed – for the second consecutive time.
The fourth LIV Golf Invitational event is scheduled at the International in Bolton (MA) Sept. 2 -4.
On the web: LIVGolf.com
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