Will Henrik Stenson ever win a major?
The Swede has finished in the top five in seven majors, but has been unable to win one of golf’s big four events so far, despite a string of near misses.
The 39-year-old has landed a tee-time in the favourable side of the draw, heading out today at 2.34pm and will hope to have finished his second round before the worst of the weather tomorrow afternoon.
Two years ago at Muirfield, Stenson finished runner-up to Phil Mickelson, one of his playing partners this afternoon, which proved to be the platform for an incredible season for the Swede who went on to become the first player to win both the Race to Dubai and the US PGA Tour’s FedEx Cup in the same season.
Asked if he would be filled with a sense of regret should he fail to land a major, Stenson said: “If I look at the big picture, how much I’ve managed to achieve coming from a little junior in Sweden standing there dreaming about playing golf worldwide and competing in the big events, I’ve come a very long way.
“But it would be the icing on the cake, no question.
“But I would still go to sleep fairly happy even if it didn’t happen.
“It’s a bonus, and I’m trying hard to make it happen.”
Those tipping Stenson for the Claret Jug this weekend will point to his third-place finish at the Old Course in 2010 as evidence of his credentials.
The Swede feels comfortable on the course and confident he can cope with whatever the Scottish weather throws at him over the next four days.
He said: “I have probably played it 45 times over the years so I feel I have got a good idea how to play this golf course.
“I was third in 2010 and somewhere around 30th in 2005. I have had a couple of good Dunhill Links performances in the past so I’ve done reasonably well.
“Every time you are inside the top 10 in a golf tournament you are playing good enough to win.
“That is how tight professional golf is now.
“Any player needs to get the good bounces and lucky breaks at the right time to keep the momentum going but, of course, you have to play well enough to make it happen.
“Every time you are up there you learn something.
“I have managed to win some nice tournaments and still haven’t got a major championship.
“Of course every time I show up I hope this could be the one.”