Henrik Stenson felt his time for major glory had come

Henrik Stenson believed his turn had arrived to become golf’s latest major champion and with it end the question of when Sweden would finally win one of the sport’s greatest prizes.

The 40-year-old from Gothenburg who lifted the Claret Jug at Royal Troon last night as a three-stroke winner, had been one of four Open runners-up from his homeland since 1994.

Jesper Parnevik had missed out that year to Nick Price at Turnberry, when Anders Forsbrand had co-led the championship with Nick Faldo after 54 holes and three years later there was more heartbreak at Troon when he shared second place with Darren Clarke behind Justin Leonard.