Henrik samples Swede smell of success in LA

SEVEN months ago Henrik Stenson had never played a golf tournament in America. Now he gets called in to speak to the media before he has even hit a shot.

The Swede’s rising status - he tops the European Ryder Cup table and is up to 17th in the world from 133rd this time last year - was reflected on his arrival in Los Angeles for the Nissan Open.

Stenson’s first three starts of 2006 have seen him finish second in Abu Dhabi, first in Qatar and seventh in Dubai.

That does not quite compare to Tiger Woods, who goes for his third straight victory this week, but the 29-year-old is the only European winner so far this season and his rapid progress through the ranks has not gone unnoticed in the United States.

Stenson’s American debut was not until the US PGA championship last August and the most memorable thing about it was that his girlfriend was robbed.

“Someone took her purse when she went into New York shopping,” he said.

The following week he shared the first round lead with Woods and Vijay Singh in the NEC world championship in Akron and although he could not keep up with the world number one on that occasion, his next trip across the Atlantic brought a third place finish - again behind Woods - in the American Express world championship.

Stenson is now close to securing a Ryder Cup debut at the K Club in September, but would love nothing more than to win in the States before then.

He faces strong opposition from Woods, yet to win at Riviera, as well as Ernie Els and new US Tour winners JB Holmes and Arron Oberholser.

Lee Westwood plays in America for the first time this season and joins Luke Donald, Justin Rose, Brian Davis - third last year - Greg Owen, Paul McGinley and Graeme McDowell, who will be hoping to find form prior to tackling Woods next week in the first round of the Accenture World Match Play.