Stenson eager to blank out the plaudits

Henrik Stenson has one world championship to his name and now he would like another – as well, of course, as the title of Masters champion in two weeks’ time.

First things first. Before turning his thoughts to Augusta the 30-year-old Swede, winner of the Accenture World Match Play in Tucson last month, has his sights on the CA World Championship starting in Miami today.

If Stenson still is not big news yet in America – he noted with a smile that there were 10 reporters at his press conference rather than the usual eight – he knows that inside the game many are predicting great things for him.

Ryder Cup captain Nick Faldo, now commentating on television in the States, has come out and said how highly he rates the world number five.

“It’s always going to be expectations from all different directions,” responded Stenson. “I think as a player we always put the highest pressure on ourselves to perform.

“I don’t think it’s going to make any big difference. I try and stick to my own things and I know where I want to be and how well I want to play and that’s all I can focus on. But if Nick says that it’s still flattering that he thinks highly of my game.”

Stenson missed the cut on his Masters debut last year, but states: “If I can have a bit of form going in there I think I can have a good tournament.

“It’s still a long way to go talking about winning the event, but if I can stay patient and play well and be in there with a chance on Sunday I’m going to do everything I can to take it obviously.

“There’s been a few suggestions that ’your game suits Augusta perfectly, you’re going to win the Masters’. But I think just from making that statement to actually win it, it’s quite a long way – and I wasn’t the one making the statements.”

One big difference between last year and this is that his fellow Swede Fanny Sunesson is now his caddie. She helped Faldo win four of his six majors.

“Her knowledge about the course, having been there so many times and won twice with Nick, is definitely an advantage and I hope that can bring something to the end result.

“When I split up with my old caddie I was looking around thinking ’who I should call?’ Being Swedish both of us, I think we think alike and our personalities are a good match.

“Also having somebody work so hard and got the experience. So it was just, all of a sudden, the name came up, I contacted her and she was available.”

Sunesson is having to get used, however, to how much further Stenson hits the ball than Faldo did.

Not that he is getting carried away by that.

“There are quite a few guys who hit it past me. I played with JB Holmes last week and he was definitely lashing it 25 yards past me at times.

“I think my strength is when I swing it well and hit my driver well I hit it both long and really accurately as well. I think it’s more the combination at times that gives me the advantage of being both straight and long off the tee.”