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Stenson hoping to finally master Augusta
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Stenson hoping to finally master Augusta

Henrik Stenson has proven he is a man for the big occasion throughout his entire career but this week he will be aiming to finally make a big impact at the Masters Tournament.

Henrik Stenson

The Swede won the Open Championship in record-breaking fashion last July for his first Major Championship and also has top fives in the US Open and US PGA Championship to go with top three finishes in all of the World Golf Championships - including a win at the Match Play.

He also has two wins at the DP World Tour Championship, Dubai and has twice been crowned Europe's Number One, but his record at Augusta National is not befitting of a man with such a CV.

A tie for 14th in 2014 is his best result in the season's first Major but he arrives full of confidence this term with both the Claret Jug and the Harry Vardon Trophy on his mantelpiece.

Henrik Stenson during the first round of the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship

"It's of course nice to be a Major champion," he said. "I think it just takes away that focus. In the long run, it was all about making it happen and, of course, I feel very happy that I did make it happen last year.

"Now we can look ahead and try and give that Claret Jug some company.

"I have to change something around. You've seen the record. I've been here 11 times before and it's the least successful Major out of the four. I'm working hard on trying to make that turnaround and if I could get a little bit closer this week, I'd be happy.

Now we can look ahead and try and give that Claret Jug some company - Henrik Stenson

"I hope to be able to be a little bit more aggressive off the tee on a couple of the holes this year. I'm not normally someone who shapes the ball a lot and on a couple of the holes, it really makes a difference if you can try and get it a bit further down there.

"There's a few little bits and pieces. Putting, having the opportunity to putt on quick greens with a lot of undulations beforehand and the boys did a good job for me down at Lake Nona and speeded up the greens about a week, ten days ago. We've put a little bit of extra practice in on that.

"Hopefully all those things will come together and we can be a little bit better off than we have been in the past."

Stenson had finished in the top ten in 13 of his last 17 European Tour events before withdrawing from the WGC - Mexico Championship due to illness at the start of March.

Henrik Stenson celebrates his Open Championship victory

Since then he has missed two cuts on the US PGA Tour but remains confident in his form.

"I feel alright," he said. "I've put a lot of effort into the prep work this year, probably as much as ever. I guess that the previous couple of tournaments, I just haven't performed the way I would have liked to, which is negative in terms of building some momentum and confidence out on the golf course.

"But at the same time, I've been working trying to find that form and hit my shots better and putt better and everything else.

"Hopefully I can still put it together this week. I feel like it's not too far away and I'm certainly no worse off this year than I've been any other year coming in here. That's why we're here. We've got four days to figure out where we stand."

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