Stenson: No favourites in match play
Henrik Stenson says entering the WGC-Accenture Match Play Championship as the favourite doesn’t count for much.
Having won both the Race to Dubai and the FedEx Cup last year, Stenson has become an international star but insisted that world rankings would have no bearing on the outcome of the tournament.
“I don’t think it makes a difference for me here. If you’re going to have a good week, you need to play well,” said Stenson.
“You need to have better luck on your side and it doesn’t really matter if you’re No. 1 seed or if you’re No. 50 coming into this week.”
With Tiger Woods, Adam Scott and Phil Mickelson deciding not to take part in the match play event, the world number three is the top ranked player and he will undoubtedly look to fed off his 2007 victory when he tees off against Thailand’s Kiradech Aphibarnrat.
The Swede highlighted that there would be very little room for error and that it would be foolish to underestimate any opponent.
“We know you can shoot 64 and someone else shoot 63 and you’re going home,” Stenson said.
“You can shoot 74 and you still squeeze by because the other guy is having a worse day than you are having.
“You’ve got to be able to squeeze by on the matches when you’re not playing that well. Hopefully you’ll win the ones where you’re playing well. It’s all about timing in that sense.”
Meanwhile defending champion Matt Kuchar shared Stenson’s sentiments, adding that he relished the cut-throat nature of the competition.
“I love the format, it’s good for golf,” said Kuchar.
“It makes for some real exciting matches, makes for something just different than four rounds of 72-hole stroke play.”
Latest
-
NewsGolfers warned of further sanctions if they continue to play in LIV breakaway
The DP World Tour has issued fines of £100,000 and tournament bans to its members who played in the inaugural LIV Golf event earlier this month
-
European TourDP World Tour hits members who played inaugural LIV series with £100,000 fines
They have also been banned from several forthcoming tournaments including the Scottish Open.
-
NewsRory McIlroy not impressed as Brooks Koepka becomes latest big name to join LIV
The world number two labelled the players who have joined the new series as “duplicitous” for the way they have handled their breakaway.
-
The OpenR&A confirms LIV Golf Series players will be allowed to compete at Open
The 150th Open Championship will get underway at St Andrews in three weeks’ time.
-
US OpenMatt Fitzpatrick turns to other major winners for advice on dealing with fame
Fitzpatrick won the US Open on Sunday.
-
NewsBrooks Koepka set to join Saudi-backed LIV Golf Invitational Series
Koepka’s brother Chase played in the opening event at Centurion Club earlier this month.
-
US OpenGary Player urges Matt Fitzpatrick to avoid ‘poison’ of modern-day coaching
Player tells US Open champion Fitzpatrick to learn from mistakes of recent major winners, saying: “The teaching today is the worst it has ever been.”
-
US OpenMatt Fitzpatrick’s caddie Billy Foster ready for ‘long party’ after US Open win
Foster won his first major after a 40-year career which includes spells working for the likes of Seve Ballesteros, Lee Westwood and Darren Clarke.
-
US OpenMatt Fitzpatrick backed to become a dominant force after winning first major
The Englishman claimed his first major title at Brookline.
-
US OpenMatt Fitzpatrick: A Blade with plenty of support who can really cut it
The Sheffield golfer landed his first major – and first professional win in America – at Brookline on Sunday.