Henrik Stenson‘s choice, which cost him the opportunity to lead Europe in the Ryder Cup, had immediate and significant benefits as he won the LIV Golf Invitational tournament at Bedminster on Sunday, earning more than $4 million for three days of labor.
Stenson began the third and final round at Trump National with a 20-foot birdie putt and never allowed anyone to get closer than 2 shots the rest of the way, building a 3-shot lead going into it.
He beat Matthew Wolf (64) and Dustin Johnson, who birdied the last hole for a score of 68, by two shots as he finished with a 2-under 69.
Five years after defeating a field of more than 20 competitors, Stenson earned $4 million for the victory and an additional $375,000 for his team’s second-place finish.
The significant payout came less than two weeks after the 46-year-old Swedish star agreed to join the Saudi-funded LIV Golf series, excluding a signing bonus that is reportedly worth roughly $50 million.
The greatest F/U in the history of Golf just happened. Awesome job @henrikstenson!!! #LIVGolf #Rydercup @LIVGolfInv @TrumpGolf pic.twitter.com/vMGrr2ieGr
— Donald Trump Jr. (@DonaldJTrumpJr) July 31, 2022
When Stenson was named Ryder Cup captain in March, he vowed his unwavering support for the European tour. However, four months later, when he changed his mind, the tour fired him.
After finishing at 11-under 202, Stenson commented on the LIV Golf show, “I believe we can agree I played like a captain.”
Stenson declined to comment when the LIV-paid broadcaster asked if he felt validated by the victory and simply said, “It’s been a good first week.”
“Ten days have been really busy. I’m quite proud of how well I was able to concentrate “said he.
The Hero World Challenge, a holiday tournament with a 20-man field that was hosted by Tiger Woods in the Bahamas in December 2019, was won by Stenson. He won the Wyndham Championship the year before that. Additionally, even though he felt pressure in the last hour, it didn’t always appear that way.
With four holes left, including two par-5s, Stenson sank an 8-foot birdie putt to take a 3-shot lead. On the par-5 15th, he needed four shots to get down from left of the green, though. Stenson took a two-shot lead down the last par-5 hole after converting a 10-foot putt for par two holes later.
Stenson commented, “The putt on 17 was massive to keep the cushion coming up the last.”
DEBUT WIN FOR @henrikstenson 🏆#LIVGolf pic.twitter.com/1ymF3CQlhy
— LIV Golf (@LIVGolfInv) July 31, 2022
Johnson has now competed in three LIV Golf events and has placed ninth, fourth, and tied for second. His “4 Aces” squad has won the last two games, paying each player $750,000. The two-time major champion has earned more than $5.2 million on the course in three competitions since it was revealed that Johnson received a $150 million signing bonus.
Patrick Reed (69) came in fifth, followed by Carlos Ortiz (68) of Mexico.
Only twice in Phil Mickelson’s nine rounds of LIV Golf has he shot par or better, with his even-par 71. He came in 35th.
During the FedEx Cup playoffs on the PGA Tour, the LIV Golf series takes a month off. It returns on Labor Day weekend roughly an hour west of Boston and then plays in the Chicago suburbs two weeks later.
