Henrik Stenson finished second twice before in Tiger Woods’ tournament, but this time he was the man atop the leaderboard at the end of the 21st Hero World Challenge.
The 43-year-old Swede took the lead with a brilliant shot that set up a tap-in eagle on the 15th hole in a 6-under-par 66 and beat defending champion Jon Rahm of Spain by one stroke at Albany Golf Club https://www.albanybahamas.com in New Providence, Bahamas.
The tournament benefits Woods’ TGR Foundation.
“I just went one better this time,” said Stenson, who claimed the 21st victory of his pro career, but first since the 2017 Wyndham Championship. “I found something on the range Sunday night, kept working on it and got some momentum early in the week.
“I hung in there today by making some big par saves at Nos. 11 and 14 on the back nine, and of course the shot of the day was the 5-wood to within a couple of inches for an eagle at 15.
“I’m down to like No. 40 in the world after being in the top 10 for five or six years straight, and that’s where I want to be. When I play my best, I feel like can compete against the best in the world, and I showed that again today.”
Stenson, who claimed the 2016 Open Championship at Royal Troon for his only major title, also made birdies on the 10th and 13th holes en route to posting a score of 18-under 270.
Rahm, trying to become the only player other than Woods to win the Hero two years in a row, had a birdie-eagle-birdie run through the 16th hole in his own 66, only to fall barely short, while Patrick Reed was two shots back in third after making five birdies on the back nine in another 66.
Tournament host Woods, who has won the Hero a record five times, held the lead for a while on the back nine, but played the last seven holes in 1-over and wound up four behind in fourth.
“I had my chances, but didn’t make enough putts, enough birdies on the weekend,” said Woods, who won the Zozo Championship in Japan in his last start. “I drove it great and had a lot of opportunities, but just didn’t do it.
“We started this tournament in 1999-2000 with hopes of creating a fundraiser for my foundation and it has turned out that way. I’m grateful for the players who have supported it and the people who have helped out. It’s awesome.”
Justin Rose of England made four birdies down the stretch in a 65 to finish five down in a tie for fifth with Justin Thomas, who totaled 70 after a double-bogey 6 on the last hole.
Gary Woodland, the 54-hole leader, stumbled to a 73 and finished six behind in a tie for seventh with Kevin Kisner, who birdied five holes on the front nine in a 65, while 2017 champion Rickie Fowler of Murrieta was eight strokes back in solo ninth following a 68.
Tony Finau posted a 65 that included an eagle on the 11th hole and wound up 11 shots behind in a tie for 10th with Xander Schauffele of La Jolla and San Diego State, who totaled 68, and Webb Simpson, who eagled the 15th in a 69.
Jordan Spieth, the 2014 Hero champion, shot 72 to tie for 16th, and 2015 winner Bubba Watson was last in the 18-man field after a 73.
For complete results, visit https://www.pgatour.com/competition/2020/hero-world-challenge/leaderboard.html
