Henrik Stenson believes memories of his special win at the 2007 Omega Dubai Desert Classic will drive him to more success when he returns to compete at the longest-running European Tour event in the region in January.
One of the greatest golfing talents to emerge from Sweden, Stenson played 72 holes in the exalted company of Ernie Els that year, eventually beating the South African by one shot with a seven foot birdie putt on the final green.
That classic victory, in a tournament that attracted the likes of then World Number One Tiger Woods, marked a big step in the career of Stenson who has since risen as high as second in the Official World Golf Rankings and won tournaments on both sides of the Atlantic.
“It was a great week for me, and holding off such a great player in front of family and friends made it even more special. Like they say, once a champion, always a champion, so it’s nice to see your name on the trophy and on the wall in the clubhouse,” said Stenson, who has been a regular to Dubai since joining The European Tour in 2001, having also made his home there for ten years before moving to Florida in 2012.
“Dubai will always mean a lot to me and it is nice that I was able to win this tournament. I will always feel at home here, and the course has always been in a great shape and it's a tribute to all the hard work put in by the green keepers.”
"The finishing holes at the Majlis are quite interesting in the sense that they offer you a realistic chance of picking up three shots. The short par four 17th is a good birdie hole and on the 18th you can be aggressive and aim for an eagle.”
Fresh off making it two in a row at the DP World Tour Championship, Dubai, Stenson will be hoping to keep up the good work with a strong showing at the Omega Dubai Desert Classic.
“It is one of my favourite weeks on the Tour and I always look forward to it,” said Stenson, who boasts 17 wins worldwide, including nine on the European Tour and four on the US PGA Tour, as well as having made three appearances in The Ryder Cup.
Mohamed Juma Buamaim, Vice Chairman and CEO of golf in DUBAi, the promoters and organisers of the Omega Dubai Desert Classic, said: “Henrik is the man of the moment in world golf after his impressive run of success on both the PGA and European Tours."
“It is a tribute to his hard work and dedication to golf that despite suffering a loss of form as recently as just three years ago he kept faith in his ability and returned to the top echelon of the world golf rankings, setting an example for fellow golfers.
“A great friend of golf in DUBAi, Henrik has been a staunch supporter of the Omega Dubai Desert Classic and his victory in 2007 is still fresh in our minds. If his current form is any indication, I am sure we will see Henrik deliver another master class on the Majlis. I wish him the very best.”
