Henrik Stenson’s Fall & Redemption ⛳ | From Ryder Cup Captaincy Loss to Open Champion Glory
Joining LIIV Golf has led to different consequences for many golfers. For Americans, it meant being banned from the PGA Tour, while European players were slapped with heavy fines if they wanted to continue competing on the DP World Tour. But for Henrik Stinson, the cost was something far greater, the Rder Cup captaincy. The Swede, a six-time PGA Tour winner and one of Europe’s most respected players, had been announced as captain of team Europe for the 2023 Ryder Cup. Yet, when he joined the Saudi back circuit in July 2022, the role was stripped away with Luke Donald stepping in to replace him. That blow was painful enough, but it wasn’t the first time Stinson had endured setbacks in his career. Like every golfer with a long career, he has had his highs and lows. When asked recently about his toughest years in the game, Stinson didn’t hesitate to look back at a time early in his career when he felt completely lost on the course. “In 2001, I came on the European tour and won my 11 start,” Stinson recalled on the No Bad Lies podcast. “I’d had a good year before winning the challenge tour, which is like the corn ferry in Europe. Everything was going well, but at the end of that summer, I started spraying it off the tea. I kind of lost confidence completely and it just went downhill. In 2002, I probably played 28 tournaments, missed 21 cuts, and I was hitting it sideways. Confidence was at its absolute low. The contrast was staggering. After turning pro in 1998, he topped the 2000 challenge tour rankings and earned his European tour card. By 2001, he had transitioned his success, winning the Benson and Hedges International Open in style, finishing three strokes ahead of Unhel Cabrera and Paul McInley at 13 underpar. But soon after, his form collapsed. Between 2001 and 2002, his DP World Tour ranking plummeted from 44th to 177th. In 2002, he played 21 events but made just eight cuts, earning a mere €42,282.85, his worst year financially. His driver became his biggest enemy. It would just go like miles to the right, Stinson said. And when he tried to overcompensate by aiming left, the results were even worse. His confidence was shattered. That’s when he turned to renowned swing coach Pete Cowan whose resume includes working with the likes of Rory Mroy, Lee Westwood, Sergio Garcia, Brooks Kepka, and Graham McDow. Together, they tore Stinson’s swing down to its foundations and rebuilt it from scratch. A process that took nearly 2 years at T1 point. Stinson even practiced hitting drives with his eyes closed. It got to the point I was practicing on the range, hitting drives with my eyes closed just not to interfere, he explained. Slowly, the unorthodox drills rebuilt his trust and rhythm. That by 2004, the results were visible. Stinson claimed his first DP World Tour win since his slump at the Heritage, setting the stage for one of the most successful European careers of his generation. From 2006 to 2016, he added nine more DP World Tour titles while also breaking through on the PGA Tour in 2007 at the WGC Accentra match play. All six of his PGA Tour victories came after he rebuilt his swing. The peak came in 2016 when Stinson produced one of the greatest final rounds in major history at Royal Trun, outdueling Phil Mickelson to win the Open Championship. That triumph made him the first Swedish golfer to win a men’s major. Even now, Stinson continues to compete. In the 2025 Open Championship, he tied for 45th, finishing at one under and earning $44,6046. But once again, challenges loom. Following his relegation from the 2026 LIV golf season, the 11time DP World Tour champion faces another crossroads. His story serves as a reminder. Even elite players suffer setbacks both on and off the course. The real question is how they respond. Just as he rebuilt his career in the early 2000s, fans will be watching closely to see whether Henrik Stinson can once again reinvent himself and climb back toward the top.
Henrik Stenson’s Fall & Redemption ⛳ | From Ryder Cup Captaincy Loss to Open Champion Glory
⛳ Henrik Stenson’s golf journey is proof that even the greatest champions face devastating lows. From being stripped of his 2023 Ryder Cup captaincy after joining LIV Golf 😱 to hitting rock bottom in 2002 when he missed 21 cuts in a single season, Stenson has lived through both triumph and heartbreak.
But his story is also about resilience. After rebuilding his swing with legendary coach Pete Cowen — even practicing drives with his eyes closed — Stenson roared back to win on both the DP World Tour and the PGA Tour. His crowning achievement? The unforgettable 2016 Open Championship victory at Royal Troon, where he outdueled Phil Mickelson in one of the greatest final rounds in major history 🏆.
Now, after his relegation from LIV Golf, Stenson once again faces a career crossroads. Can he pull off another comeback like he did two decades ago? In this video, we break down his career highs, his crushing lows, and what might be next for one of golf’s most fascinating figures.
🔥 Stay tuned until the end for the full story of Henrik Stenson’s struggles, resilience, and the lessons every golfer can learn.
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