Henrik Stenson claimed his first major title in the Open Championship last year at Royal Troon, but since then – nothing.
The Big Swede ended his victory drought by shooting 6-under-par 64 in the final round to beat Ollie Schneiderjans by one stroke in the Wyndham Championship at Sedgefield Country Club in Greensboro, N.C.
“I didn’t hear a roar coming from 18 and thought I had a two-stroke lead going to 18, but came around the corner and saw that Ollie made birdies on the last two holes,” said Stenson, who claimed his 20th victory as a pro. “He pushed me all the way to the end.
“It was anybody’s tournament to win in the middle of the back nine, a tight race. I managed to put my foot down and make some birdies coming home.”
Stenson, the highest-ranked player in the field at No. 9 in the world, opened with scores of 62-66-66 and set a tournament scoring record of 22-under 258, breaking by one shot the mark set by Carl Pettersson of Sweden in 2008 and tied by Si Woo Kim of South Korea last year.
Schneiderjans, whose only pro victory came in the 2016 Air Capital Classic on the Web.com Tour, also closed with a 64. He sank a 40-foot birdie putt on the 17th hole and a two-foot birdie on the last to momentarily tie for the lead.
However, Stenson made his fourth birdie in five holes on a 27-foot putt at No. 17 for what proved to be the winner, and made par to close it out.
Webb Simpson, the local favorite who claimed his first PGA Tour victory in the 2011 Wyndham, made four birdies down the stretch to shoot 67 and was four strokes back in solo third, while Ryan Armour and Rory Sabbatini of South Africa posted 64s to finish another shot down in a tie for fourth with Kevin Na of Diamond Bar, who had a 68.
Cameron Smith of Australia and Martin Flores carded 63s to wind up seven back in a tie for seventh with Shane Lowry of Ireland, who came in at 67.
Davis Love III, who won the Wyndham for the third time in 2015 at the age of 51, recorded a 69 to finish another shot down in a tie for 10th with Harold Varner III and Richy Werenski, who also closed with 69s.
