Electric start gives hope to 'Super Swede' Stenson

Dubai - After what has been a stellar year, Stenson wants more of it

World No.4 Henrik Stenson is training his guns on the Majors to give the Claret Jug some company as he sets his sights on targets in the New Year.
The two-time Race to Dubai champion clinched The Open Championship at Royal Troon, winning by three strokes over Phil Mickelson last July, for his first Major.
After what has been a stellar year, Stenson wants more of it.
"I just want to keep on developing my game. I want to keep on working hard on that, and come into the Majors well prepared and well rested and try and put myself in contention. I feel like I can get the Claret Jug some company if I do that. I'm going to try my hardest," Stenson said on Thursday.
The effervescent Swede, who was bestowed honorary life membership of the European Tour ahead of the season-ending DP World Tour Championship last November, turned up at the Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship with very little practice to waltz to the top of the leaderboard with an eight-under 64 in the opening round on Thursday.
And while most athletes in sport perhaps overdo it sometimes, very little seems to have worked well for Stenson.
"It must be the lack of practice that does it," said Stenson.
"Lack of sleep, lack of practice but I'm delighted with that score. I think I scored a bit better than what I played, but I kept it under control somewhat and hit a couple of close iron shots and made the putts. And yeah, it wasn't too much stress out there," he added. Stenson had revealed on the eve of the tournament about the lack of practice and repeated that after the first round.
"It wasn't a whole lot. I was working on my putting. That was the main thing, and some short game. I hit a couple of buckets last week, and then flew to Sweden. I was there for the sports awards and came down here on Tuesday morning," he said.
And Stenson felt it was more of a continuation from last year.
Stenson has won the Commercial Bank Qatar Masters and the Omega Dubai Desert Classic, but is yet to win in Abu Dhabi, which forms part of the 'Desert Swing.' But on the evidence of this first round, he hoped that he can take it forward.
"This is the first one, so I didn't come in here expecting too much, given the light start-up I had. But with this start, of course I hope I can keep it going throughout the week."
james@khaleejtimes.com