he 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."
Complete article