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The K Club in Dublin, Ireland, does crazy things to Henrik Stenson. There he was last September leaning over the clubhouse balcony, toasting yet another European win in the Ryder Cup. Nothing unusual about that — except the Swede was wearing a green wig. "Ah, yes, it seemed like a good idea at the time," Stenson, 31, says, laughing. Five years earlier at the K Club, Stenson wasn't quite so chipper. Struck with a wicked case of driver yips at the European Open, he walked off mid-round. That moment of despair sparked a two-year purgatory in which Stenson rebuilt his swing — and confidence — a transformation that has propelled him to No. 5 in the World Ranking. It is a stunning turnaround for a player whose steely on-course demeanor and signature Terminator sunglasses belie a goofy, fun-loving side, and a clear indication of why the other Swedish pros dubbed Stenson "The Special One."
A European hasn't won a major since Paul Lawrie in 1999. Many, including Nick Faldo, think you're the next in line. How's that for pressure? Yeah, there have been a lot of sleepless nights. I'm crying myself to sleep. [Laughs.] No, I don't feel extra pressure because none of us in Europe has won a major since Lawrie. It doesn't bother me. I think we can turn it around soon. It wouldn't bother me too much if I were the next one to win one.
As recently as 2002, your game was in shambles. Today you're No. 5 in the world. Do you feel you belong among the game's elite? I can't say that I should be No. 5 in the world, but I think I've established myself within the top 20, and then just recently moved into the top 10.
Breaking into the Top 5 must help your confidence. It is nice to have hit the fifth spot, and I have a little competition with myself to see how high up in the world I can get. It is a reflection of how well I have played in the last 18 months. I established myselfand got to No. 11 last year, and winning tournaments certainly gives you more confidence. But I don't feel I am a different player than when I was 11th.
But are you walking a bit taller these days? Yeah, it's on paper now that I can beat pretty much anybody in match play and stroke play. That's gonna make you feel a quarter of an inch taller, if not half an inch. When I get to a tournament, I feel I have a big chance to win. Maybe not as big a chance as Tiger Woods, but I have won some big tournaments and hopefully I can win some bigger ones.
Can you get to No. 1 in the world? We can have a new discussion if I get to No. 2. Knowing how well I've played recently, and then seeing I only have one-third of the points that Tiger has, I realize how well I have to do to catch him. But if I reach No. 2, I'll set my goals on becoming No. 1. Hopefully Tiger will have retired by then, too — he's almost half a year older than me!
Tell us about the bad times, like when you walked off the course at the 2001 European Open. I had to hit three drives before I could find a ball to continue playing on the first hole. The first couple of provisional balls don't bother you that much, but, after a while, when your caddie is rattling in the golf bag to see if he's got a provisional when you're standing over a drive, you know you've got some sort of a problem. [Laughs.]
Your swing and confidence just disintegrated? Yep, I lost one then the other. I had no idea where my drives were going to go. One went 400 yards left and another went 400 yards right. By the time we got to the 18th green [my ninth hole], I'd had enough. I just couldn't carry on. I told the guys [playing partners Miguel Angel Jimenez and Sandy Lyle] that they'd be better off without me.
